The husband and son of a young mother burnt alive on the side of a rural road near Huntly have been found in Fiji.
Police have confirmed the husband of 28-year-old Ranjeeta Sharma and their four-year-old son were tracked down by police in the Rakiraki District in western Fiji last
night.
The man, whose name is believed to be Devesh Sharma, left New Zealand with the boy, whose name is Akash, on Friday - one day after Mrs Sharma was found burnt to death near the township of Rotowaro, 10km west of Huntly.
Waikato CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said the boy was found when Fijian police located his father.
Police are currently working to verify the boy's wellbeing, he said.
"The boy's father is a person of interest in relation to the homicide inquiry into the death of his wife, 28-year-old Ranjeeta Sharma of South Auckland, whose body was found west of Huntly Thursday night.
"Our inquiry is continuing and we are seeking further clarification from Fiji Police of the circumstances surrounding the father being located."
Mr Keall earlier said the man was "a person of considerable significance" to an investigation into Mrs Sharma's murder.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed New Zealand has an agreement with Fiji allowing for the extradition of anyone charged or convicted of murder.
Mrs Sharma had worked as a nurse at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
She was found burning on the side of Hangapipi Rd by a passing motorist at 10:05pm on Thursday
Police launched a homicide investigation after a post-mortem revealed she was alive when she was set on fire.
An accelerant was used to start the fire, police said.
Mr Sharma left his wife's silver Subaru station wagon, registration FSD433, at Auckland Airport on Friday.
The car is being forensically tested.
- with NZPA
