A post-mortem examination was to be conducted this morning.
"A woman who was at the address when the incident took place was treated for minor injuries at hospital and has since been discharged.
"Police and Victim Support are liaising with her and her family," police said.
A scene examination would continue this weekend.
According to charge sheets, the defendant lived in Wanganui East. His family were present in court.
Defence lawyer Stephen Ross said the case against his client could well escalate.
"There may well be further charges depending on the outcome of the police investigation."
He made no bail application.
Judge Peter Butler remanded the defendant in custody to appear in the Waitakere District Court next Thursday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key said a spate of murders in West Auckland this year was probably just "bad luck".
There have been eight violent deaths in West Auckland since May.
Mr Key told reporters during a visit to St Paul's School in Massey yesterday that police did not view the most recent death as a sign of any "systemic" local problem.
"The police are very conscious when they start seeing a spate of crime in a particular area, and they do ask those very questions about whether there is something unique about what's happening here or whether there is just a string of what, for want of a better term, is bad luck.
"I think on balance at the moment they are of the view it's not something that is systemic to West Auckland."
