NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Budget 2025
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • 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 / New Zealand

A decade of violent death: New Zealand's 158 lost women

Anna Leask
By Anna Leask
Senior Journalist - crime and justice·NZ Herald·
28 Dec, 2021 04:00 PM14 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

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

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      5
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      New Zealand has the worst rate of family and intimate-partner violence in the world. A shocking 80% of incidents go unreported.

      Christie. Cissy. Joanne. Jasmine. Marie. Blessie. Chozyn. Alicia. Verity. Nicole. Bella. Azalia. Crystal. Michelle. Noelene. Bridget. Gurpreet.

      These are just some of the names of Kiwi women who should still be alive.

      These are just some of the names that made headlines here - and around the world -when their lives were cruelly and violently ended, and mostly at the hands of men.

      But these names are only the tip of the iceberg - highlighting only the worst of the worst cases of abuse, assault, revenge, deadly jealously, vile rage and the entitlement of some men to mete out violence and retribution at will.

      Since January 2011 there have been 695 deaths in New Zealand categorised by police as homicides.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      A homicide is the killing of one person by another.

      Read More

      • Blessie Gotingco's husband's grief: 'I would give anything ...
      • Terrifying last moments at hands of insane killer - ...
      • A Moment In Crime Podcast: The murder of Grace Millane ...
      • Exclusive: Slain Pakuranga Heights mum Chozyn Koroheke ...

      In New Zealand charges that can arise from a homicide include murder and manslaughter and the overlapping offences of infanticide and driving offences causing death.

      Data provided to the Herald by the police under the Official Information Act shows that of the homicides in the last decade, 211 of the victims were female.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Of those, 158 were adults aged 18 and over.

      Twenty-two of the women were killed in driving or transport-related incidents including quad bike and boating incidents.

      The rest died after violent or abusive incidents - and more than half were killed by a partner or family member.

      Four of the women were pregnant when they were beaten or stabbed to death.

      Discover more

      New Zealand|crime

      Domestic-violence murder: Accused describes lifetime of violent abuse

      13 Feb 05:36 AM
      New Zealand

      Domestic violence increases rapidly in NZ - strangulation, beatings 'commonplace'

      02 Sep 04:18 AM
      New Zealand|crime

      The night stalker of Auckland: How serial rapist Colin Jack Mitchell was unmasked

      07 Oct 02:00 AM
      New Zealand|crime

      Mt Albert homicide: Police urge walkers to come forward

      17 Oct 09:55 PM

      Others were murdered while their horrified children watched on close by.

      Police are called out every four minutes to a domestic violence incident. Photo / Bevan Conley.
      Police are called out every four minutes to a domestic violence incident. Photo / Bevan Conley.

      Police charged 20 partners - husbands, boyfriends or girlfriend - and 21 ex or estranged partners with murder or manslaughter.

      Just three women were killed in attacks by random strangers and in each case they were out in broad daylight walking or exercising.

      The list provided by police only includes homicide cases where someone has been charged.

      There are other cases where women have been killed by partners or exes who also died.

      For example in January 2020 Sherine Nath, 32 was dead found at her Papatoetoe home.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Her young son was critically injured but survived.

      Her husband Riki Nath, 34, was also found dead and is believed to have been responsible for the fatal incident.

      In 2013 Glenys Stanton and her boyfriend Trevor Waite were shot dead at his South Auckland home.

      Three days their killer John Mowatt - a man Stanton had previously spent time with - took his own life.

      And on March 10 this year police believe Viliami Latu killed the mother of his four children Toakase Finau before ending his own life.

      Police at the scene after Glenys Stanton and Trevor Waite were killed. Photo / NZH
      Police at the scene after Glenys Stanton and Trevor Waite were killed. Photo / NZH

      Latu had a long history of violence towards Finau and when they died was facing a raft of charges including assaulting her and breaching his bail conditions.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Finau had been granted a protection order against Latu but he ignored it completely - as he had with earlier police safety orders.

      New Zealand has the highest rate of intimate partner violence against women in the OECD.

      However, only about 20 per cent of incidents are ever reported so what we know from data collected by authorities is only a small glimpse into an ever-increasing and extremely serious problem.

      Here, one in three women - 35 per cent - have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

      When psychological and/or emotional abuse is included that figure increases to 55 per cent of women.

      While men can also be the victim of intimate partner violence, the majority of the abuse perpetrated is against women.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      In most of the cases where women were killed someone was put before the courts charged with murder or manslaughter.

      And in most cases they pleaded guilty or were convicted after a jury trial.

      A few killers were found not guilty of a murder charge by reason of insanity and while they were not criminally culpable there is no question that they were responsible for the death.

      In those cases the killers were detained indefinitely as special patients to forensic psychiatric units.

      In one case - the death of Auckland woman Cissy Chen - her partner was charged with murder but walked free after a jury found him not guilty.

      Police said they would not reinvestigate Chen's death and were not looking for anyone else in connection with the crime.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Family or domestic violence is an umbrella term that includes: intimate partner physical and sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, sibling abuse, parental abuse, elder abuse, and violence against disabled people.

      If you or someone you know is being abused in any way - please reach out for help. A list of help services and information can be found at the bottom of this story.

      If you are being harmed, remember, it is never your fault.

      Today the Herald remembers and pays tribute to all of the women killed in New Zealand in violent and murderous incidents in the last decade.

      Decade of death: Our lost women remembered

      These are the details of the women who have died in violent circumstances from January 1 2011 to October 16 2021.

      Names marked with * indicate cases where a protection order, trespass order or bail with non-contact condition were in place at time of the victim's death.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Some of the women cannot be named at this time due to court ordered suppression.

      2011

      Ranjeeta Sharma, 28
      Huntly
      Burned alive by her husband

      Ranjeeta Sharma. Photo / Supplied
      Ranjeeta Sharma. Photo / Supplied

      Titiksha Desai, 45
      East Auckland
      Stabbed by her estranged husband

      Sandra Brown, 58
      Tauranga
      Stabbed by her daughter's ex-boyfriend

      Lesley Johnston , 60
      Roxburgh
      Shot by her estranged husband

      Stacey Lake, 23
      Otaki Beach
      Shot by her boyfriend

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Susan Audley, 44
      Tauranga
      Fatal assault at a mental health facility by another patient

      Eman Hurmiz, 41
      Wellington
      Stabbed by her husband

      Bronwyn Sadler, 47
      Christchurch
      Stabbed by her partner

      Lusi Aleni, 41
      Balclutha
      Stabbed by her husband

      Christie Marceau. Photo / Supplied
      Christie Marceau. Photo / Supplied

      *Christie Marceau, 18
      North Shore
      Stabbed by obsessed ex colleague who was on bail for kidnapping, assaulting her

      2012

      Tracy Morris, 46
      Christchurch
      Strangled by a male friend

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Lisa Corbett, 37
      Nelson
      Strangled by her former partner

      Sanchia Wilson, 33
      Wanganui
      Fatal overdose administered by her boyfriend

      Rosemary Kurth, 50
      Okoki
      Shot by her partner's teenage grandson

      Sharon Foley, 39
      Richmond
      Stabbed by her abusive estranged partner

      Michelle Lawrence. Photo / Supplied
      Michelle Lawrence. Photo / Supplied

      *Michelle Lawrence, 41
      Christchurch
      Beaten by jealous on-off partner

      Rae Portman, 33
      South Auckland
      Pregnant woman beaten to death and dumped by drug associates

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Rae Portman. Photo / Supplied
      Rae Portman. Photo / Supplied

      Woman, name suppressed
      Christchurch
      Stabbed to death by man known to her

      *Robyn Prole, 57
      Tauranga
      Stabbed by her abusive estranged husband

      Robyn Prole. Photo / Supplied
      Robyn Prole. Photo / Supplied

      *Ashlee Edwards, 21
      Whangarei
      Drowned by her abusive former partner

      Ashlee Edwards. Photo / Supplied
      Ashlee Edwards. Photo / Supplied

      Mary Donnelly, 38
      Upper Hutt
      Strangled by her former neighbour

      Maryann Akuhata, 48
      Gisborne
      Set on fire by her partner

      Anne McCullough. Photo / Supplied
      Anne McCullough. Photo / Supplied

      Anne McCullough, 45
      New Plymouth
      Jogger run down and killed by random man

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Cissy Chen. Photo / Supplied
      Cissy Chen. Photo / Supplied

      Bin "Cissy" Chen, 44
      North Shore
      Partner charged with her murder but acquitted after High Court jury trial

      Michelle Hoffman-Tam, 51
      Rotorua
      Stabbed, mutilated by woman she had been seeing casually

      Michelle Hoffman-Tamm. Photo / Ben Fraser
      Michelle Hoffman-Tamm. Photo / Ben Fraser

      Amanda Taufale, 33
      Wellington
      Stabbed by her ex-partner who hid in roof and waited to attack

      Alicia McCallion, 23
      South Auckland
      Stabbed by her jealous ex-partner

      Sina Solomona. Photo / Supplied
      Sina Solomona. Photo / Supplied

      Sina Solomona, 22
      Ashburton
      Violated, stabbed by stepbrother

      2013

      Patricia McGrath, 33
      Whangarei
      Assaulted by her abusive on-off partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Patricia McGrath. Photo / Michael Cunningham
      Patricia McGrath. Photo / Michael Cunningham

      Robyn Grace, 43
      Blenheim
      Killed with axe by her son

      Nicola Fleming, 38
      Invercargill
      Violated, beaten by her jealous ex-partner

      Carmen Popata
      Pamapuria
      Shot along with her husband by nephew in execution-style killing

      *Gail Bower, 48
      Havelock North
      Stabbed by estranged husband

      Gail Bower. Photo / Supplied
      Gail Bower. Photo / Supplied

      Barbara Moka, 32
      Omanaia
      Beaten by her ex-partner

      Georgina Manuel, 28
      Kaitaia
      Deliberately run over by her partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Georgina Manuel. Photo /Supplied
      Georgina Manuel. Photo /Supplied

      June McGowan
      West Auckland
      Stabbed to death by her son

      Mei Fan, 37
      Wellington
      Stabbed by her ex-husband

      Mei Fan. Photo / Supplied
      Mei Fan. Photo / Supplied

      *Sarwan Lata, 38
      Wellington
      Stabbed by her estranged husband

      Jasmine Cooper, 26
      Te Hana
      Beaten, strangled by her ex-partner

      2014

      Name suppressed, 24,
      Christchurch
      Raped and killed by new flatmate

      Sidra Malik, 18
      West Auckland
      Stabbed by her father who also killed her mother the day before they planned to leave

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Farhat Malik, 26
      West Auckland
      Stabbed by husband she planned to leave the next day

      Blessie Gotingco. Photo / Supplied
      Blessie Gotingco. Photo / Supplied

      Blessie Gotingco, 56
      North Shore
      Run down in car, raped, stabbed by man unknown to her

      *Susan Cleveland, 55
      Ashburton
      Shot by man known to her through her work at WINZ

      *Peggy Noble, 67
      Ashburton
      Shot by man known to her through her work at WINZ

      Bimla Wati, 47
      Auckland
      Stabbed by her partner

      Heidi Welman-Scott. Photo / Supplied
      Heidi Welman-Scott. Photo / Supplied

      *Heidi Welman-Scott, 41
      North Shore
      Stabbed by her estranged husband

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Sandra Guerin, 55
      Upper Hutt
      Attacked with axe by her son's friend

      Aileen Macdonald, 69
      Napier
      Fatally assaulted by her daughter

      2015

      Ena Lai Dung, 76
      Manurewa
      Fatally neglected by her daughter and unrelated housemates

      Ena Lai Dung. Photo / NZME
      Ena Lai Dung. Photo / NZME

      Gwendoline Blake, 71
      Stratford
      Beaten, stabbed by her son

      Catherine Stewart, 56
      Kapiti
      Stabbed by a man known to her

      Virginia Ford, 20
      Palmerston North
      Beaten by her partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Sherena Williams
      Upper Hutt
      Stabbed by a man at a party

      Katrina Drummond, 47
      Taupo
      Beaten with a claw hammer by her husband

      Katrina Drummond. Photo / Supplied
      Katrina Drummond. Photo / Supplied

      Davina Nguyen, 49
      South Auckland
      Stabbed by her boarder

      Parmita Rani, 22
      Auckland
      Stabbed by her partner at her college after she sat an exam

      Parmita Rani. Photo / Supplied
      Parmita Rani. Photo / Supplied

      Vicki Warrington, 48
      Dunedin
      Stabbed at home by a man known to her

      Victoria Foster, 24
      Napier
      Shot by her ex-partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Karin Ross, 53
      Dunedin
      Attacked with hammer by a disgruntled employee

      Helen Silverwood, 55
      Wellington
      Stabbed by her son

      2016

      Joanne Pert, 41
      Auckland
      Killed by a random man while jogging in broad daylight on a busy street

      Jo Pert. Photo / Supplied
      Jo Pert. Photo / Supplied

      Cunxiu Tian, 69
      West Auckland
      Violated, beaten by a man who lived over the back fence

      Raewyn Green, 50
      Hamilton
      Fatal assault by her jealous partner

      Tracy-Ann Harris 43
      Nelson
      Smothered by her niece and friend

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Jindarat Prutsiriporn, 50
      Auckland
      Fatally injured after jumping from a car boot during drug/gang kidnapping

      Jindarat Prutsiriporn. Photo / Supplied
      Jindarat Prutsiriporn. Photo / Supplied

      Sharon Comerford, 54
      Seacliff
      Bludgeoned by her neighbour

      Delia Williams, 55
      Wellington
      Run over by her abusive partner

      Gurpreet Kau, 22
      Auckland
      Stabbed by her partner while she was pregnant

      Queenie Karaka, 41
      Atiamuri
      Beaten with iron pole by her partner

      Heidi Pryor, 37
      Wellington
      Stabbed by female friend while out jogging

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Renee Duckmanton, 22
      Christchurch
      Strangled, dumped and set alight by sex work client

      Renee Duckmanton. Photo Supplied
      Renee Duckmanton. Photo Supplied

      Ruby Knox, 22
      Blenheim
      Disabled woman killed by mother

      Kim Richmond, 42
      Hamilton
      Violent attack by her jealous husband who tried to cover it up

      Carly Stewart, 36
      West Auckland
      Stabbed at a "pamper party" by female associate

      Linda Edwards, 58
      Auckland
      Strangled, house set on fire by her son

      Marie Harlick 35
      Opotiki
      Brutal beating by her abusive partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Marie Harlick. Photo / Supplied
      Marie Harlick. Photo / Supplied

      2017

      Leeanne Hart, 53
      North Shore
      Fatal beating by her partner

      Chozyn Koroheke, 22
      South Auckland
      Shot by her abusive partner

      Chozyn Koroheke. Photo / Supplied
      Chozyn Koroheke. Photo / Supplied

      Petra Frank, 58
      Taupo
      Stabbed by her husband

      Verity Barber, 40
      Invercargill
      Shot by her jealous husband who was a police officer

      Alicia Nathan, 32
      Christchurch
      Stabbed at a house party by a woman

      Hayley Williams, 43
      Greymouth
      Shot while her kids were nearby by a man she had earlier accused of an indecent assault

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Arishma Chand, 24
      Manurewa
      Stabbed by her obsessed ex-partner

      2018

      Anastasia Neve, 35
      Dunedin
      Beaten and killed along with her partner by associate

      Aroha Kerehoma, 28
      Hamilton
      Beaten by her enraged partner

      Robyn Crawford, 37
      Opotiki
      Stabbed by her late partner's son while she was pregnant

      Ariana Mahu, 37
      Tauranga
      Stabbed at a marae by a male relative

      Nicole Tuxford, 27
      Christchurch
      Raped and killed by a man she life coached. He was a murderer on parole.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Nicole Tuxford. Photo / Supplied
      Nicole Tuxford. Photo / Supplied

      Yanyan Meng, 62
      Nelson
      Strangled by husband while the couple were tourists in New Zealand

      Leigh Wallace, 50
      Otorohanga
      Shot by her on-off partner after counselling session

      Lynace Parakuku, 22
      Rotorua
      Beaten by her drunk, jealous partner while she was pregnant

      Keshni Naicker, 28
      Christchurch
      Stabbed by her jealous ex-husband

      Jasmine Wilson, 29
      Whanganui
      Allegedly killed by abusive partner who remains before the courts

      Woman aged 50
      Bay of Plenty
      Domestic violence-related

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Grace Millane, 21
      Auckland
      UK tourist strangled on her birthday by a man she met hours earlier on a Tinder

      Grace Millane. Photo / Supplied
      Grace Millane. Photo / Supplied

      Xi Wang, 34
      South Auckland
      Stabbed while holding her small child by her ex-husband who drove from Rotorua

      Michelle Hurinui. Photo / Supplied
      Michelle Hurinui. Photo / Supplied

      Michelle Hurinui, 32
      Matamata
      Beaten to death on Christmas Eve by her partner

      2019

      Miriama Raukawa, 45
      Whanganui
      Stabbed by a man in a violent incident

      Noelene Marinovich, 59
      West Auckland
      Strangled, beaten by son with hammer

      Bridget Simmonds, 42
      Whangarei
      Killed, buried by her ex-partner. Her body was not found for more than a year

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Bridget Simmonds. Photo / Supplied
      Bridget Simmonds. Photo / Supplied

      Edith Roderique, 70
      Raumati Beach
      Killed by her partner at their retirement village

      Ansi Alibava, 25
      Christchurch
      Shot by gunman while praying at her mosque in the Christchurch terror attack

      Husnd Ahmed, 44
      Christchurch
      Shot by gunman while praying at her mosque in the Christchurch terror attack

      Husna Ahmed. Photo / Supplied
      Husna Ahmed. Photo / Supplied

      Karam Bibi, 63
      Christchurch
      Shot by gunman while praying at her mosque in the Christchurch terror attack

      Linda Armstrong, 64
      Christchurch
      Shot by gunman while praying at her mosque in the Christchurch terror attack

      Linda Armstrong. Photo / Supplied
      Linda Armstrong. Photo / Supplied

      Lorna-Anne Thompson, 41
      Whanganui
      Killed by her partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Taylor-Jade Hira, 29
      Hastings
      Man charged with murder

      Police investigate Taylor-Jade Hira's death. Photo / Warren Buckland
      Police investigate Taylor-Jade Hira's death. Photo / Warren Buckland

      Irina Czibesz, 45
      Kapiti
      Killed by a man she met on online dating site

      Feona McKay Patea, 23
      Whanganui
      Stomped to death by her partner of six months

      Woman, aged 30
      Central
      Domestic violence-related

      Grace Virtue, 90
      Levin
      Home invasion attack by three teenage girls

      Azalia Wilson, 22
      Invercargill
      Beaten by her abusive ex-partner

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Crystal Selwyn, 38
      Hamilton
      Beaten with paving stone by ex-partner in front of their terrified children

      Barbara Quinn, 41
      Greymouth
      Strangled and stabbed by her jealous ex

      Bella Te Pania, 34
      Christchurch
      Strangled by sex work client

      2020

      Meliame Fisi'ihoi, 57
      South Auckland
      Mistaken identity shooting, three men before the courts

      Meliame Fisi'ihoi. Photo / Givealittle
      Meliame Fisi'ihoi. Photo / Givealittle

      Sam Reid, 33
      Taupo
      Beaten by her abusive partner

      Tania Hadley, 47
      Auckland
      Killed, set alight by her boarder

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      *Shirley Reedy, 52
      Te Anau
      Strangled by her abusive husband in a motel

      Shirley Reedy. Photo / Supplied
      Shirley Reedy. Photo / Supplied

      Pania Melrose, 57
      Te Toko
      Killed with a hammer by her partner's son

      Binder Kaur, 42
      South Auckland
      Husband charged with murder and before the courts

      Woman, aged 34
      South Auckland
      Family violence-related

      *Chantel Wiki-O'Brien, 23
      South Auckland
      Stabbed, set alight by her boyfriend

      Elizabeth Zhong, 55
      South Auckland
      Former male business partner charged and before the courts

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Ngawai Himiona, 37
      Hamilton
      Man charged with murder

      2021

      Chevana Fox, 29
      Napier
      Suffered Huntingtons Disease and killed by her mother

      Elizabeth Bangera, 55
      Auckland
      Killed by a man she knew alongside her husband

      Kaye Harrison, 73
      Wellington
      Man known to her charged with murder and before the courts

      Lena Zhang Harrap, 27
      Auckland
      Killed while walking in park in broad daylight. Random man charged with murder

      Lena Zhang Harrap. Photo / Supplied
      Lena Zhang Harrap. Photo / Supplied

      Woman, name suppressed
      Waikato
      Man charged with murder

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Michelle Kaipara, 49
      Kawerau
      Man known to her charged with murder and before the courts

      DO YOU NEED HELP?

      If you're in danger now:

      • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.
      • Run outside and head for where there are other people.
      • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.
      • Take the children with you.
      • Don't stop to get anything else.
      • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay

      Where to go for help or more information:

      • Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz
      • Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
      • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584
      • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz

      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from New Zealand

      New Zealand

      Prices dip at final GDT auction for the season

      20 May 08:41 PM
      New Zealand

      'Te reo belongs on our roads': Iwi demand reinstatement of 'taihoa' roadworks sign

      20 May 08:36 PM
      New Zealand

      'No talking' limit: Union raises concerns over workplace policy

      20 May 08:13 PM

      The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      Prices dip at final GDT auction for the season
      The Country

      Prices dip at final GDT auction for the season

      20 May 08:41 PM
      'Te reo belongs on our roads': Iwi demand reinstatement of 'taihoa' roadworks sign
      Hawkes Bay Today

      'Te reo belongs on our roads': Iwi demand reinstatement of 'taihoa' roadworks sign

      20 May 08:36 PM
      'No talking' limit: Union raises concerns over workplace policy
      New Zealand

      'No talking' limit: Union raises concerns over workplace policy

      20 May 08:13 PM
      Auckland mayor inks friendship deal with governor of Chinese province
      New Zealand

      Auckland mayor inks friendship deal with governor of Chinese province

      20 May 08:13 PM
      Security for midwives bolstered after ‘very violent attack’ on worker leaving shift
      New Zealand

      Security for midwives bolstered after ‘very violent attack’ on worker leaving shift

      20 May 08:09 PM

      Latest from New Zealand

      Prices dip at final GDT auction for the season

      Prices dip at final GDT auction for the season

      20 May 08:41 PM

      This is the final GDT auction for the season, which officially finishes on May 31.

      'Te reo belongs on our roads': Iwi demand reinstatement of 'taihoa' roadworks sign

      'Te reo belongs on our roads': Iwi demand reinstatement of 'taihoa' roadworks sign

      20 May 08:36 PM
      'No talking' limit: Union raises concerns over workplace policy

      'No talking' limit: Union raises concerns over workplace policy

      20 May 08:13 PM
      Auckland mayor inks friendship deal with governor of Chinese province

      Auckland mayor inks friendship deal with governor of Chinese province

      20 May 08:13 PM
      Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
      sponsored

      Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

      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
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • What the Actual
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven CarGuide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search