A plain clothes officer was seen walking towards the back of a neighbouring property with a member of the forensics team, who was wearing a white jumpsuit.
A neighbour told the Herald she knew the family, but would not comment out of respect for them; only to say she was "just devastated'' at what had happened.
Another nearby resident said although they had been there for a number of years - the same as those at the cordoned-off house - the people there kept to themselves.
They had not heard anything during the night and only found out about the tragedy after seeing comments about it on Facebook this morning.
Police examine the scene after a 59-year-old woman died in Oratia last night. Photo / Doug Sherring