Six weeks after a respected mother and grandmother was brutally shot dead in her South Auckland home, her killer is still yet to be caught.
Now the Tongan and wider Pasifika communities in the area are reporting a sense of fear among locals at the escalation in gun violence.
Theyare calling for more urgency from police investigating the case of Meliame Fisi'ihoi before another innocent person ends up dead,.
Meliame Fisi'ihoi was shot and killed in the early hours of Wednesday, January 15. Photo / Facebook
It has been 45 days since the 57-year-old was gunned down in the early hours of Wednesday, January 15, at her home on Calthorp Close, Favona, in what is understood to have been a case of mistaken identity.
"There's not even a development, not even a mugshot. I'm really concerned."
"Ilolahia said many within the Tongan and Pacific community were conservative and, as a result, there was a sentiment among them to let police do their job.
"But I think this is a bit too long. They should be coming up with a profile or witnesses."
Māngere MP Aupito William Sio has also put out a call to the person responsible for Fisi'ihoi's death to do the right thing and come forward.
"Those responsible must be held accountable. If whoever killed her had any respect for their own criminal code, they should immediately come forward and own up to this murder," he said.
Police have distributed pamphlets in the neighbourhood where Meliame Fisi'ihoi, 57, was gunned down. Photo / NZ Police
Days after Fisi'ihoi's horrific death, a woman was arrested in relation to an incident where graffiti was spray-painted all over the Favona property.
The words "Aroha, Black Power" were scrawled across a cabin outside the house. Despite those words - it is not thought the gang is connected to the death.
Another member of the community, who did not want to be named, described how afraid they had been since the now infamous Favona homicide.
Even on a hot night, all the windows in their house are locked tight.
'IT'S BLOODY SCARY'
The member says that even speaking out about the incident is something that brings fear still - not just a fear of being identified, but one of being shot.
"It's bloody scary. I would say, you know, police should get on and do their job because everyone is scared - the family, even the kids in the community," they said.
"They're scared because no one knows who did this crime. You just don't feel safe at all.
"It could happen again and they still don't know who killed Meliame."
The official comment from police is that there is no further update, at this stage.
"The police investigation is continuing," a spokesman told the Herald last week.
The Herald has put more detailed questions to police today about the homicide investigation but is yet to receive a response.
