Woman's cause of death still a mystery

Police will do a post mortem today on the body of a Palmerston North woman found at a city house yesterday.

They are treating the 36-year-old woman's death as suspicious.

Detective Sergeant Mark Painter said it was still not known how she died.

"We honestly can't tell how she died yet. A post mortem will be carried out late this morning or early this afternoon to determine that," he said.

Police would complete a scene examination today. They canvassed the neighbourhood around the house for witnesses last night.

The woman's body was found after police and emergency services were called to the Oakley St house at about 11am yesterday.

Mr Painter would not comment on whether any weapons were found at the house, as the scene examination was not complete.

The woman's name would be released later today after the post mortem.

Environmental Science and Research staff arrived in Palmerston North late yesterday to help with the scene examination, he said.

Police were appealing for anyone who was near the intersection of Featherston St and Oakley St at about 11am yesterday to come forward.

- NZPA