Slain woman's body found by employee

Police tape blocks access to the Meads home in Matamata after Wednesday's fatal shooting. Photo / Alan Gibson

The body of a well-known horse-racing figure was found by an employee who had come to work for her suspected killer.

Helen Meads was shot dead at her Matamata home on Wednesday in a domestic dispute.

The worker, whose car was pictured in the Herald yesterday, arrived at the semi-rural property just after 8am. His sister-in-law said the man, who contacted the police, was an "emotional wreck".

Mrs Meads' body was returned to her family yesterday after a post mortem examination revealed she had died from a single gunshot to her torso.

Her husband, Gregory Howard Meads, a prominent figure in the racing industry, was charged in the Hamilton District Court with his wife's murder.

The killing has sent shockwaves through the racing community, with some saying they saw no warning signs in the couple's relationship.

Meads, 54, did not seek name suppression or enter a plea. He appeared calm in the dock, and did not speak throughout the brief hearing.

No bail application was made and he was remanded in custody to reappear on October 8.

His parents, Howard and Janice, from Tauranga, and brother Peter were present in court.

The body of Mrs Meads, who was the Matamata Pony Club district commissioner, was found in an outbuilding at the family's Banks Ave home.

Long-time associate Phil Stevens, who trained multiple winner Kristov for Meads, said Mrs Meads was a "bubbly" personality who "couldn't be kept down in life".

He said he knew of tensions between the pair but never expected such a drastic turn of events.

"I've had a fair bit to do with them over the years, and certainly no one expected this."

The couple had been married 10 years, and had been in business together, breeding and training horses, since then. They were partners in the running of the Willow Park Stud.

Among the racehorses they owned were Kristov, Ginga Dude and Wolf Pack. Meads sold his stake in Ginga Dude, which has collected $340,625 in winnings, on Monday.

Mrs Meads had two children - a son in his early 20s and a daughter aged 17 - from a previous relationship, and the couple had an 8-year-old daughter, Samantha.

Matamata racing identity Dennis Ryan, a friend of Mrs Meads, said the community had lost a hard-working and well-liked member.