KEY POINTS:
As police investigate a "suspicious death", neighbours of an elderly woman who was found dead in her home on Auckland's North Shore say was a lovely lady who did not deserve to die "in this drama".
Police were called to the Eskdale Rd home in Birkdale this morning after friends of the woman, believed to be in her 80s, was found.
The body of the woman had yet to be removed from the property this afternoon, as police continued their investigation of her home.
Police had cordoned off the house and neighbouring properties while crime officers examined the property and police officers went door-to-door in the neighbourhood.
Auckland police communications centre Sergeant Tobias Harrison confirmed police were "investigating the suspicious death" of an elderly female" but declined to comment further.
Next door neighbour Cheryl Cox said she last talked to the woman over the fence on Friday and saw her sitting in her chair from her window, about 6pm yesterday.
Ms Cox said the woman had few visitors.
The woman was frail and had a hysterectomy in September or October last year, she said.
Mary Morgan, who lives with her husband Neil across the street, said she kept in contact with the woman, who knew to call if she was in any trouble.
The woman had lived in the house for over five years and before that in another part of the area, she said.
While the woman had a daughter, she had little contact with her and there were no other family in the area, she said.
"She was a real lovely lady, she kept to herself but I can't think of any reason to harm her."
The woman, originally from England, had a medical alarm system due to her health problems and St John ambulance had been to the house on several occasions, Mrs Morgan said.
"She was a very nice person, very refined and she did not deserve to end it (her life) in this drama."
- NZPA
