Police investigate woman's death

Homicide detectives were today continuing to investigate the death of a 20-year-old woman in the King Country yesterday.

The body of Wini Miria Te Maia McLean was found by police and ambulance staff in a house in Benneydale, 35km southeast of Te Kuiti, after a 111 call about 5.20am yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Pete van Wetering said today that the body was being taken to Auckland for a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

In the meantime police were continuing to speak to locals who may have seen Ms McLean either at the local hotel or a party in the town on Friday night or Saturday morning.

A man known to Ms McLean, who lived and worked in Benneydale, was helping police with inquiries.

The house remained under police guard today as forensic scientists searched for clues to what happened.

- NZPA