By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
TAUMARUNUI - The woman murdered in her Taumarunui home lived a quiet life and had a "heart of gold."
Te Miringa Shayle Tipene, aged 41, was more commonly known in the King Country town as Millie Dunn.
Police have opened a homicide inquiry and scene examinations by forensic staff are likely to continue for several days.
Residents of New Rd were reluctant to talk about the incident this week, but a former neighbour and friend of Millie Dunn said she was "really freaked" to hear of the murder.
"She had a heart of gold. She was always happy and really great to talk to.
"When I heard about what happened I just freaked out. How could that happen in that tiny street?"
Millie Dunn was found dead in her home on Tuesday with extensive injuries to her head, neck and upper torso.
Despite completing an autopsy, police have not revealed how the injuries were caused.
Millie Dunn had lived in her rented home for about eight years and had at least two children.
She was living alone at the time of her death.
Two of the children attended Taumarunui High School until the beginning of this year.
Millie Dunn is believed to have had links to the Mormon church and it is understood one of her sons is attending Church College in Hamilton.
New Rd is a cul-de-sac of just 10 homes - mostly aged state houses - and several empty sections.
Most of the homes are rental properties, some of them unoccupied.
Inspector Don Allan said no one had been arrest and no suspects had been questioned in connection with the death.
Murder shocks a quiet Taumarunui street
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