Dryden Lodge deaths: Police confirm missing Shortland St actress Tania Ellwood as one of two people found dead

Family members of a man found dead with a missing actress in an Auckland house have paid tribute to their relative.

Police today confirmed missing Auckland woman Tania Ellwood, 39, and Timothy Kerr Hamilton, 36, also of Auckland were the pair found dead in Dryden Lodge in Grey Lynn.

Police say the pair were known to each other and that they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the matter.

However, the investigation is ongoing and police would still like to hear from anyone who may have seen Ellwood or Hamilton after 11am on February 28.

Hamilton's nephew Julian Rika wrote online about his uncle.

"Rest in Peace Uncle Tim. Gonna miss you and your crack up jokes ... love you bro ... too early."

"Rest in peace my brother I love you so much," wrote Hamilton's brother Jesse, in response.

Police said the deaths would be referred to the coroner at the end of their investigation.

Tania Ellwood. Photo / Supplied

Police were called to Dryden Lodge, which acts as a halfway house for many tenants with drug and alcohol problems, at 3.15pm on Tuesday after a horrified maintenance worker discovered the two bodies.

Police partially cordoned off the downstairs level of the Grey Lynn property and some residents were evacuated.

Dryden Lodge resident James Davidson told the Herald that inside the cordon were single bedrooms and a kitchen.

Davidson has lived in the lodge for two years.

He said he woke from an afternoon nap on Tuesday to find police everywhere.

Davidson did not know the people who had died but said a lot of the lodge residents had alcohol and drug issues.

The discovery of the bodies followed a police appeal to the public on Tuesday morning to help find Ellwood due to concerns for her safety.

Ellwood was last seen in Newmarket about 9.30am on February 28.

She had last been in contact with family the night before about 6pm and it was said to be out of character for her not to be in contact.

A family member posted to Facebook on Tuesday saying: "We love you Tania and we will find you."

Ellwood is listed on StarNow as being an actor, hair stylist, makeup artist and fashion stylist. She had a brief stint on Shortland Street where she played a character called Mandy Timmins.