5 Aug 2024

Police make new appeal for sightings of Jo Sione-Lauaki's car

9:04 am on 5 August 2024
Police generic

Police are treating the death as unexplained. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Police are making a new appeal for sightings of Jo Sione-Lauaki's car as they continue to investigate her death near a Northland beach.

They are treating the death of Joanna Mai Sione-Lauaki, known as Jo, as unexplained.

Her body was found by a member of the public between Omamari Beach and Aranga Beach at 2pm on Friday.

She had been reported missing earlier that day after she did not return home on Thursday night.

The 38-year-old's black Mitsubishi Outlander was found in the car park near the entrance to Omamari Beach.

Police said they believed the vehicle was parked there some time after 7pm on Thursday 1 August.

The are appealing appealing for sightings of the vehicle in the car park at Omamari Beach, or of anyone near the car or on the beach on the evening of Thursday 1 August or the morning of Friday 2 August.

Police said a post mortem examination was completed over the weekend and they were waiting for the findings of a pathologist.