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Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem to establish how a woman died in a police cell.
Juanita Maria Shaw, 36, was not breathing when she was found by police during routine checks at Dunedin's police station at about 1.30pm.
She was due to appear in court at 2pm facing charges including driving while disqualified, theft and unlawful taking.
She had been checked about 1pm and had no apparent health problems.
Dunedin area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said an eight-strong detective team had been appointed to start an investigation into the death.
A senior police officer has been appointed to carry out an internal investigation into police procedures, which Mr Campbell said was standard practice.
The coroner and the Police Complaints Authority have also been advised.
Ms Shaw, of Dunedin, was arrested by police earlier in the day after a short car chase.
Mr Campbell said she was known to mental health authorities and was on medication, although he would not be specific about what type.
She was in a cell by herself and subject to regular police checks, he said.
- NZPA
