Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the death of Kerikeri woman Cristel De Vetten after a body was found in dense bush near her home at the weekend.
Searchers found the body among trees about 325m from Ms De Vetten's Matua Block home - 20-30m outside the police's
original search area - on Saturday morning.
The body was found off a track leading from her house to the beach among regenerating native bush so thick police had to cut a track through it.
Ms De Vetten, 30, disappeared from her rural home on February 10, leaving her four-year-old son Jaxon by himself.
Her partner, John Craven, feared she had been abducted. Ms De Vetten had been reportedly depressed before she went missing, partly because of a custody battle over Jaxon with a former partner.
Kaikohe police Detective Rhys Johnston said police and Ms De Vetten's family were relieved to have closure regarding her disappearance.
"They're obviously saddened by it but I think there's probably quite a bit of relief that they at least know where she is," Mr Johnston said.
The family could not be contacted for comment.
As of yesterday, Ms De Vetten's body had not been formally identified. A post mortem was being carried out in Auckland.
The body was found by police at 11.30am on Saturday.
Around 25 police and Far North Search and Rescue workers took part in the prolonged search for her.
Mr Johnston said it was the first time police had conducted a ground search in that area.
"While there are no indications of suspicious activity at the scene, a determination as to the cause of death will be left to the coroner," Mr Johnston said.
He was still satisfied the original 300m search perimeter - as suggested by the Far North Search and Rescue team - around the house had been sufficient. The body thought to be that of Ms De Vetten was found 20-30m outside that perimeter.
During the three-week search, aerial, ground and water searches were carried out. A corpse-seeking dog was also used.
Ms De Vetten lived in the Netherlands and New Zealand, mainly in the Far North, as a child. Her mother is deceased and her father lives in Australia.
She worked at early childcare centres around Kerikeri and loved children.
At a press conference two weeks ago, her sister, Nicki said Ms De Vetten was caring, honest, gentle and a "good mum".
Body recovered from bush
Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the death of Kerikeri woman Cristel De Vetten after a body was found in dense bush near her home at the weekend.
Searchers found the body among trees about 325m from Ms De Vetten's Matua Block home - 20-30m outside the police's
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