Wellington murder victim named

Police say Allison McPhee, 42, was murdered. Photo / Supplied

A woman whose body was found at a Wellington flat this week died a violent death, police say.

Allison McPhee, 42, was found dead at the council-owned Newtown Park Flats on Mansfield St, in suburban Newtown, shortly after 3pm Wednesday.

A homicide investigation has been launched after preliminary post mortem results showed Ms McPhee had died a violent death, acting Detective Inspector Scott Miller told a media conference in Wellington today.

He said she was "definitely attacked" and that the results indicated a weapon had been used.

A scene investigation was continuing, but early inquiries showed the violence had happened at her flat.

Ms McPhee was last seen on July 22, and police believed she was dead between three and five days before her body was found.

Mr Miller said an argument had been overheard in the flat between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, but it was not yet clear whether this had escalated to violence.

He said Ms McPhee, who was unemployed, was known to police, and had lived a fairly transient lifestyle.

Police would be speaking to neighbours and residents at the flats today and over the weekend.

Anyone with information regarding Ms McPhee's death was asked to contact police, Mr Miller said.

"I urge anyone with information to come forward. Residents at Newtown Park Flats with any information can speak to an officer at the scene today and over the weekend."

The flat is on the same street as a halfway house where Kelly Noema, 37, was stabbed to death last August, a day after he was bailed there by police.

- NZPA