Elizabeth Zhong homicide: Man charged with murder appears in Manukau court

The accused, who has name suppression, in Manukau District Court. Photo / Alex Burton

The man accused of murdering Auckland businesswoman Elizabeth Zhong has appeared at Manukau District Court.

A member of the public stood up in the courtroom gallery and gazed intently at the accused man as he appeared in the dock.

The matter was then stood down as Judge Chris Field waited for an interpreter.

The man then reappeared shortly before 3pm, with two police authorised officers flanking him.

A brief discussion was had before Judge Field said due to the "gravity" of the charge, all other cases in the courtroom would probably not be heard today.

Court then adjourned again for the judge to consider legal matters relating to the accused.

Court resumed at 3.35pm and the judge allowed photography of the man, but directed photos be pixelated.

Judge Field then indicated he would grant interim name suppression until the man's next appearance.

The Herald opposed name suppression.

Defence counsel Scott McColgan sought bail for his client.

The accused man was remanded in custody to his next appearance, which will be at the High Court on March 10.

Elizabeth Zhong, also known as Ying Zhong, was killed on November 27. Photo / Supplied

The body of Zhong, 55, was found in the boot of her car near her Auckland home in late November last year in suburban Sunnyhills, East Auckland.

Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said today: "We know the community expected police to get on with the investigation and bring about justice for Elizabeth.

"From the outset of this investigation, the team of detectives working on Operation Attina have worked diligently to bring about a result in this case."

Vickers said he hoped the arrest would bring some reassurance to the community and to Zhong's family.

Police initially issued an appeal for sightings of the missing woman.

They found her vehicle around the corner from her home at about 11am on Saturday, November 28.

But it was revealed that officers did not open the boot of the vehicle until several hours later.

Part of the initial police investigation included reviewing CCTV footage from the street.

Victim's humble beginnings

Zhong, who also went by the name Ying Zhong, moved to New Zealand from China in 1997 with her then young daughter and husband.

Friends said she lived in a Housing NZ property before she amassed "significant wealth".

She had worked hard to become a successful businesswoman and had links to the film and wine industries.

However, she had been bankrupted about two weeks before her death.

Her home was estimated to be worth about $2 million.

She was also known to have been active in working with investors in China and hosting visiting delegations.

One such delegation made a trip to New Zealand in 2018 and she hosted them at one of the vineyards she owned.

Zhong was sole owner and director of at least two wine-making companies that had since gone into receivership - Kennedy Point Vineyard on Waiheke Island and Carrick Wines in Central Otago.

She was also the sole owner and director of film production company Digital Post Ltd, Digipost Entertainment and associated companies.