A homicide investigation is underway in Cambridge after a woman was found dead in the early hours of the morning.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A woman's body was found at a Richmond Road property by emergency services after her death was reported at around 1.20am.
This morning police asked people to avoid picking up hitchhikers in the Te Aroha area in Waikato.
A heavy police presence has now gone from the town.
Police said the deployment of armed police this morning was connected to the homicide in nearby Cambridge.
A spokesperson said police were making enquiries to locate the alleged offender, including in the wider Te Aroha area.
"We want to reassure the community we have a number of staff dedicated to locating the offender and there will be an increased police presence while these enquiries are underway."
A Te Aroha woman said a man who police are hunting for was on her porch, but fled before officers could catch him.
The woman who asked not to be named said her son-in-law came home from work to find a man on their property.
"He got home at 5.30 this morning and there's a guy sitting on our porch and it was him that the cops were looking for."
She said the man escaped on foot. Police later spiked a vehicle with the same man inside not far from her house.
Anyone who sees any suspicious behaviour is being asked to call 111 immediately.
A scene investigation is underway.
