KEY POINTS:
An autopsy on the body of an elderly West Auckland woman has been unable to determine whether she died of natural causes - as initially thought - or was murdered.
Dorothy Beryl Campbell was found dead in her Henderson home by police who were called by neighbours on Friday night.
Police initially believed the 84-year-old had died from natural causes and referred her death to the coroner.
However, the case was reopened on Tuesday when a man walked into a police station claiming his father had strangled Mrs Campbell before trying to take his own life.
The informant is now working with police but his father remains in hospital in a serious condition. It is not clear if police have managed to speak with him about his son's allegations.
Detective Senior Sergeant Jill Rogers said police launched an inquiry after receiving new information about the circumstances of Mrs Campbell's death.
Ms Rogers said inquiries into the death were ongoing.
She was "hopeful" that once they were completed, police would be able to establish cause of death.
Neighbours have described Mrs Campbell as fit and healthy. Until recently, she had cleaned at a neighbour's home.
She was a life member of the RSA and had two children with her late husband, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs Campbell's family did not want to discuss her death, saying it was "not appropriate" to do so at this stage.
