Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Mangawhai Christmas tragedy: woman found dead on beach farewelled

Anna Leask
Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - Crime and Justice·NZ Herald·
9 Jan, 2019 07:30 PM2 mins to read
‌

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Denise Marie Crombie's body was found near Mangawhai Beach on Boxing Day. Photograph supplied by Neil Ready

Denise Marie Crombie's body was found near Mangawhai Beach on Boxing Day. Photograph supplied by Neil Ready

A woman found dead near Mangawhai Beach on December 27 has been farewelled by her family and loved ones.

Auckland woman Denise Marie Crombie, 48, was found lying on the sand at the Mangawhai Estuary by a member of the public.

She was staying with her parents - Mangawhai locals - and other family when she died.

Police said she had been socialising with family at her parents' home, just two minutes walk from the estuary, on Boxing Day.

It is understood she left to go for a swim and when she did not return her family started a search.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A member of the public discovered her body lying on the beach at 6.20am the next day.

Crombie's name was released today.

It is understood her family farewelled her at a funeral yesterday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Herald spoke with Crombie's father soon after she died.

He said the family did not want to speak publicly about what had happened.

A post mortem examination was completed and Crombie's death has been referred to the Coroner.

As such, no further information about the circumstances can be released until the Coroner formally rules on her cause of death.

Police said Crombie had consumed alcohol before she went swimming, but it was unclear if that had any part to play in her death.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Last month, Mangawhai locals told the Herald they were shocked and saddened by the death.

"It's very tragic," said one man who knew Crombie's parents.

After Crombie's body was removed from the beach a karakia was held and a rahui was then placed on the estuary for several days.

Local charter company director Stef Railey said the estuary was a popular spot for swimming but was dangerous for those who were uninitiated.

"People swim in the harbour and there is quite a strong flow, and some big tides at the moment. It's a trap for new players," he said. "They get out there and can't come back in."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

People swam right across the estuary and people frequently used the current to carry them so they didn't have to swim. The current was about 3 knots strong.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

'They’re not having the whole farm': Northland Expressway fears for Waipu families

15 May 05:00 PM
Northern Advocate

News in brief: The Weed Eaters movie - cult Kiwi horror-comedy screens in Northland

15 May 04:45 PM
Premium
Opinion

Joe Bennett: Birthdays feel more precious again when you start running out of them

15 May 04:45 PM

Sponsored

The punch that eggs pack

13 May 01:24 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

'They’re not having the whole farm': Northland Expressway fears for Waipu families
Northern Advocate

'They’re not having the whole farm': Northland Expressway fears for Waipu families

NZTA has contacted 489 landowners and confirmed needs for 75 properties so far.

15 May 05:00 PM
News in brief: The Weed Eaters movie - cult Kiwi horror-comedy screens in Northland
Northern Advocate

News in brief: The Weed Eaters movie - cult Kiwi horror-comedy screens in Northland

15 May 04:45 PM
Premium
Premium
Joe Bennett: Birthdays feel more precious again when you start running out of them
Opinion

Joe Bennett: Birthdays feel more precious again when you start running out of them

15 May 04:45 PM


The punch that eggs pack
Sponsored

The punch that eggs pack

13 May 01:24 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • NZME Digital Performance Marketing
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP