Friends and family are gathered outside a West Auckland home tonight following the death of a woman who was believed to have been getting her nails done at a party.
Police were called to a house on School Rd in Te Atatu shortly after 4pm following reports a woman had been stabbed. She died soon after.
Neighbours saw women fighting, yelling and one throw a chair before a fatal stabbing at an Auckland home yesterday.
It is understood that the victim, a 36-year-old woman, was stabbed during a "girls' day out" celebration, in which a group of female friends were getting their nails and lashes beautified at the School Rd, Te Atatu house.
Police were called to a house on School Rd shortly after 4pm following reports a woman had been stabbed. She died soon after.
Police say a 36-year-old woman has been charged with murder. Witnesses at the scene described seeing a woman being taken away by police.
One of the women yelled at her son to leave and "mind his own business," and the police arrived soon after.
She said the woman who lives at the address was seen speaking with ambulance staff after the incident.
According to Fairfax, the victim was in her 30s and a mother of two.
The couple who rented the house were lovely and friendly, and never had parties.
"They have lived there for about a year. She is very nice, they always say hello even when we see them at the supermarket we talk to her and her husband."
Officers were still at the scene this morning, after guarding it overnight, said Katinaki.
Another neighbour said that he walked past the gathering at about 10am and it seemed "lovely".
"There were children playing and laughing, lots of cars parked outside."
When he returned home about 4pm, it had descened into chaos, he said.
"There were police cars everywhere, a poor little child was sobbing his eyes out in the street."
Last night a contingent of family members waited outside the cordon until they were let inside to perform a guard of a honour and perform a haka as the body was loaded into a hearse.
Broadcaster Pam Corkery arrived at the scene about 7.30pm.
She told the Herald she knew a woman who lived at the property where the stabbing occurred.
Corkery said her acquaintance was not the victim.
Neighbours described seeing a large gathering at the house yesterday afternoon.
About six or seven cars had been parked outside with several dozen people inside being served food and drinks.
Police were called to a house on School Rd in Te Atatu shortly after 4pm following reports a woman had been stabbed. She died soon after.
A woman who lives nearby said she heard loud screaming and yelling about 3pm. She took it to be a domestic argument.
Shortly afterwards she heard one or more motorbikes either leave the house or drive past.
She suspected they were vehicles from the house as the occupants owned motor bikes.
Another resident said he saw paramedics rushing inside with a stretcher and then return a few minutes later with the stretcher still empty.
After the stabbing a group of about 15 people in their mid 20s stood outside the property, along with about 10 police officers, an ambulance and a St John rapid response vehicle.
"The people from the house were crying and screaming - it looked like they'd been having a party," said a witness.
Officers talk to people outside the scene of a fatal stabbing in Te Atatu. Photo / NZME
About a dozen people, thought to be friends or family members, remained at the property last night. Some, including several children, had been in tears as they watched forensic investigators in white overalls come in and out of the house.
Police said they are now speaking to a person of interest and inquiries are continuing.
