“I am pretty upset and I am in shock, she was one of my best friends. When I spoke to her last, three weeks ago, she was fine, she was in good spirits. We were planning a catch-up,” the distraught friend told the Herald.
“She had sore legs and was on blood thinners. We are not sure what has caused her death yet. We are still waiting for the results from the autopsy report.
“We are hoping it was due to natural causes.”
However this afternoon, two forensic officials were seen conducting searches in and around the Northcote Point address.
Six police officers were stationed outside the property with two cars - one parked at the house and the other parked under the Auckland Harbour Bridge - which remained cordoned off by police tape.
Police have been guarding the scene since Sunday night when officers were alerted about the death.
Yesterday, police said they were investigating the sudden death, and called it “unexplained”.
A local resident had said a significant area under the harbour bridge had been taped off and armed guards were watching over the property on Sunday.
The local man said the house had previously had callouts from the Armed Offenders Squad.
Akula Sharma is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2022. She has previously worked at the Gisborne Herald.