Murder charge laid after woman found dead in Te Anau motel

The woman was found dead at an address in Cleddau St, Te Anau, last night. Photo / Google Maps

A man has been charged with murder after a woman's body was found in Te Anau last night.

The alleged offender and the victim were known to each other, Detective Senior Sergeant Stu Harvey said today.

Police received information around 6.35pm that a person had died and found the woman's body at a property on Cleddau St. It is understood that the body was found at the Explorer Motel and Apartments, and the victim was a guest there. A person who answered the phone at the motel declined to comment.

A 52-year-old man has been charged with murder and appeared in Invercargill District Court today.

He has been remanded in custody to reappear on June 9.

A scene examination was under way at the address today.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said it was "very distressing" and "bad for the people of Te Anau".

It is the third homicide in New Zealand in the past six days.

Angela Joy Smith was found dead at her Henderson home on Thursday and police were treating her death as a homicide.

Several people who lived nearby told the Herald that Smith had been stabbed.

On Monday, a 28-year-old woman was charged with murder after a 34-year-old man was found dead at a house in Tokoroa.