Stanmore Bay skeleton identified

Alanah Brough. Photo / Supplied

The skeleton found in a Stanmore Creek body has been identified as belonging to missing woman Alanah Brough.

Police said this afternoon that Ms Brough's identity had been established through a forensic dental examination.

Mrs Brough, 39, had not been seen since January 30 when she walked from her Bonita St home towards Whangaparaoa College. She left behind two boys, aged 7 and 14.

Police earlier said Mrs Brough's family had been informed that a woman's remains had been found in Stanmore Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, just north of Auckland.

Children found Mrs Bourgh's skeleton during a gala day on July 25. A parent followed his son after the team's practice on Wednesday to investigate the remains.

Detective Inspector Bruce Scott of the Waitemata police said the body had "bits and pieces" of clothing attached. A search of the entire creek on Thursday did not find anything of interest.

A post mortem yesterday "showed no sign of foul play or anything suspicious" and the death had been referred to the coroner, Mr Scott said.

The day before she vanished Mrs Brough was in a car accident at South Head and was picked up by some locals after they saw her walking down the road. She was given a bed to stay in that night but left in the morning and was picked up by another motorist.

She returned to her Stanmore Bay home - which she shared with her mother and children, who are aged 7 and 14, about noon that day. She spoke with her mother who then had to go out for the afternoon

About 8pm that night she took her dog for a walk but soon returned home without the dog. A neighbour saw her leave the house again and she never returned.

A member of the public later found the dog wandering the streets, while its collar was found stashed behind the couch at Mrs Brough's house - indicating she might have deliberately let the dog loose.

- With NZHERALD STAFF