Woman dies after stranger attacks

• It was a scene that horrified residents and shocked a city. A woman was exercising in leafy Remuera yesterday morning when she was attacked by a man with a weapon and later died on a stranger's front lawn. She may have been there an hour before she was found.

• The alleged murderer handed himself into the police hours later, with a weapon. Charged with murder, he will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

• At a press conference last night, Detective Inspector Kevin Hooper described the woman's death as a tragedy. "We don't have any evidence to indicate that the accused was known to the victim," he said.

She had no idea who he was, but soon after encountering the man during a morning walk in one of the country's most lavish suburbs she was dead.

The stranger allegedly used a weapon to fatally attack her, and she tried to get help at a nearby house.

She collapsed on the front lawn of a house, just metres from the front door.

Some time later - possibly more than an hour - the occupants saw her from their window and called for help.

By then it was too late.

Cordons went up, police converged and Shore Rd in Remuera became a crime scene.

The woman was either walking or jogging along Shore Rd when she was allegedly attacked and killed by a 24-year-old Auckland man.

Emergency services were called just before 11am.

It was understood the middle-aged woman had been dead for some time before she was found.

At midday, as his alleged victim's body continued to lie on the lawn of the house, the 24-year-old walked into the Auckland Central police station and surrendered.

Police teams search for clues after an earlier incident on Shore Road Remuera after the body of a female jogger was found. Photo / Michael Craig

He carried with him a weapon which police believe he used to kill the woman.

Detectives spent much of yesterday questioning the man, who will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

The victim's body was removed from the scene for a post-mortem examination. Her name is expected to be released today.

At a press conference last night Detective Inspector Kevin Hooper described the woman's death as a tragedy.

"We don't have any evidence to indicate that the accused was known to the victim," he said.

"We believe a weapon was used, at this stage we are not looking for any other weapon. When the man surrendered himself he had in his possession a weapon that he also surrendered to police."

Mr Hooper would not be drawn on the type of weapon used or the specifics of the victim's death until the post-mortem results were completed.

He said the investigation into the murder was in its early stages.

Police teams search for clues after an earlier incident on Shore Road Remuera after the body of a female jogger was found. Photo / Michael Craig

Yesterday police started speaking to residents in a bid to find witnesses to the tragedy.

They will also be working to ascertain whether there were any earlier incidents or sightings relating to the man and the victim or others.

The scene remained under cordon and police guard last night.

Forensic experts were working alongside the investigation team.

- Additional reporting Regan Schoultz