Shooting accused granted name suppression

The scene where the woman's body was found. Photo / Dean Purcell

A man charged over the fatal shooting of a woman yesterday in Warkworth, north of Auckland, has been granted name suppression.

The man appeared in the North Shore District Court today charged with illegally possessing a pistol.

He was remanded in custody and police said more charges were likely to be laid, Newstalk ZB reported.

The body of the woman, 20, was was found outside the Kowhai Health & Medical Centre.

Police allege the man drove the woman from her Percy St home to the centre - also in Percy St - about 2pm.

They believe he was seeking help, but she was dead by the time doctors arrived at his car.

A firearm was found at the scene.

No one else was threatened in the incident.

A police forensic team is examining the man's house where the shooting is believed to have taken place.

The killing shocked residents of the quiet town north of Auckland.

Anne Elliott said nothing like the killing ever happened in Warkworth.

"It's very sad, it's a real tragedy."

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster, who lives in the area, said she first learned of the shooting when a district councillor phoned her.

"Everyone's in shock," she said. "We were just saying the other day that nothing really happens too bad around here.

"There will be a lot of shocked people. It's very, very tragic, especially at this time of year.

"This sort of thing doesn't happen [here]. I don't think it's ever happened, but it's certainly not something we expect on a Friday afternoon in December in Warkworth."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Beck Vass, Andrew Koubaridis, Newstalk ZB and NZPA