Ellerslie homicide: North Shore Hospital nurse Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok a ‘wise, respected’ colleague

North Shore Hospital staff say an Auckland man allegedly murdered over the weekend will be deeply missed as a “respected” colleague and “good guy”.

Staff said Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok worked as a senior orthopaedic nurse.

The 66-year-old theatre nurse was “a very wise, respected” health worker and a “good guy”, a staff member told the Herald.

Brad Healey, interim group director of operations at Te Whatu Ora - Waitematā extended condolences to the hospital’s theatre team, who were mourning their “respected colleague”.

“Joseph was a valued and well-liked member of our North Shore Hospital family and I would like to acknowledge his exceptional service,” Healey said.

“Our hearts are with those who worked with him.

“They are feeling this loss immensely and we will ensure they are supported through this period.”

Kwok was found unresponsive at his Ellerslie property on Monday night by a family member. He was pronounced dead at the scene by police.

Police immediately held fears for Kwok’s 67-year-old wife, Mei Han Chong. She was missing from the home along with the couple’s car.

Her body was found overnight in a bush area of Greenhithe.

Police have since arrested a 42-year-old from Glenfield, Auckland, and charged him with the couple’s murder. He is due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

Police are continuing to examine several homes and locations around Auckland connected to the murders.

Police conducting a scene investigation in Kereru Gr, Greenhithe. Photo / Jason Dorday

Herald reporters have spotted police at locations including Celtic Crescent, Ellerslie, where the couple lived, and this morning at Hall Rd and another home elsewhere in Glenfield, as well as Kereru Gr in Greenhithe.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard earlier said the couple’s car was found in Hall Rd.

Their son earlier told police his mother’s disappearance was “totally out of character”.

She did not drive, so police said it was likely someone had driven her away. The state of the house in East Auckland indicated she did not leave home willingly.

Police teams subsequently scoured “hours and hours” of CCTV footage to track the car’s movement before finding her body.

“We’re devastated to locate Mrs Chong in these circumstances and are providing support to their son, who has lost both his father and his mother,” Beard said this morning.

Police earlier revealed Kwok’s injuries were “violent and consistent with foul play” and that they had begun a homicide investigation.

Beard said Kwok suffered multiple stab wounds, describing the killing as “quite brutal”.

The nature of the injuries suggested more than one person was involved but Beard said no links to organised crime had been found.

The man charged with murdering the couple is accused of stabbing them to death on November 5.