Girl, 5, in car when mum killed

The young daughter of Lisa Maree Corbett was in the car when the woman was killed. Photo / Supplied

Police believe a five-year-old girl was with her mother when she was killed in the back of a van, then driven 40 minutes in the same vehicle so the alleged killer could hand himself in to police.

Nelson woman Lisa Maree Corbett, 37, was found dead in a vehicle near the Nelson police station on Monday afternoon.

Michael William Beca, 44, has been charged with her murder.

Police said Ms Corbett and Beca were travelling in a van from Murchison to Nelson with her five-year-old daughter.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy said they stopped near the Spooner Range lookout, about 40 minutes from Nelson, where Beca allegedly killed Ms Corbett.

"We believe the family were in the car together, but we're still trying to make inquiries," he said.

Soon after, Beca walked into the Nelson police station with Ms Corbett's daughter and told officers there was a woman's body in a vehicle in a nearby street.

Police charged Beca and took the vehicle for forensic examination. An autopsy will determine how Ms Corbett died.

Mr McCoy said Beca and Ms Corbett had been in an on-off relationship for a year but had not been living together. Court records listed Beca as having no fixed abode.

The Herald understands he is from the South Island and spent time living in Invercargill and Wyndham.

One News reported last night that Ms Corbett, thought to be from Dunedin, had lived in her caravan at Brook Motor Camp with her daughter, who is now in Child Youth and Family care.

Ms Corbett has two other children in Dunedin.

Police cordoned off her caravan and were speaking to neighbours. After a brief court appearance, Beca was remanded in custody until March 27.