Woman’s death still a mystery, police repeat plea for info

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The death of former Hawke’s Bay and Wellington woman Kathleen Kawana remains “unexplained”.

Police have repeated their plea for information about her movements in this district before her death.

Mystery surrounds the cause of her death and how she came to be in Ruatoria.

The body of the 46-year-old was found in a vacant house on Ngarimu’s Hill just south of Ruatoria on August 3.

Police released her body to her family earlier this week. Her tangi has been held in Flaxmere.

“We have been continuing to support Ms Kawana’s whanau as the tangi proceeds,” said acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Quinn.

“We have inquiries taking place in Titahi Bay, as well as in Hawke’s Bay, and we are still looking for information about her movements between Porirua and Ruatoria.”

She previously lived in Porirua.

Police earlier said her body had been at the house for some time but no specific timeframe has been mentioned.

The findings of a post-mortem examination have yet to be disclosed.

The new owners of the house where she was found visited the house on August 3, two days after purchase, and found her body.

They told Stuff they found her in the lounge, and immediately called police.

In 2005, Ms Kawana lost a six-year-old daughter in a tragic accident at a park in Flaxmere when a large gum tree branch fell on top of her.

Anyone with information about her movements in this district are asked to call Gisborne Police on 06 869 0200 or to provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.