Police have confirmed the identity of a woman whose body was found in a bag in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour seven months ago.
She was Shulai Wang, aged 70, of China.
She came to New Zealand in August last year from China and had no family here.
She had not been reported missing.
Police have been investigating the death since her body was found in the water on March 12.
A man and woman, both aged 37, have been charged with interfering with human remains.
They were arrested while trying to leave the country in early July.
Police acting detective inspector Tim Williams said extensive inquiries were carried out to identify Wang as the victim.
“Detectives from the Operation Parade investigation team recently travelled to China to assist with this process,” he said.
“The investigation team has been working tirelessly in the months since the homicide investigation was launched to piece together who this victim was, and the events leading up to her death.”
Williams added Wang’s family back in China have been advised of her death and “we are working with them and international authorities to repatriate Wang and return her to her family”.
“We appreciate there are still many questions the community has in relation to this investigation and we can assure you our team is working around the clock to find those answers.”
Shulai Wang mystery: What we know so far
Shulai Wang’s pyjama-clad body was pulled from the water by a fisherman on March 12, sparking a homicide investigation.
A “black notice” was issued through Interpol in April. A black notice is used to seek information on unidentified bodies.
Police revealed in May the woman’s DNA had been tested in efforts to identify her — with the profile unable to be matched to “anyone in our records in New Zealand”.
Investigators worked with a number of experts including a forensic odontologist (who studies the structure and diseases of teeth), forensic anthropologists, the pathologist, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
“These, alongside genealogy testing for unidentified deceased persons, have outlined that it is highly likely the woman is of Chinese descent,” Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams said in May. At this time, it was estimated the victim was aged between her 30s and 50s.
Williams said the woman was “of a very slight build” and, at some point in her life, she’d had her gallbladder removed.
On June 30, two people were arrested while trying to leave the country and charged with interfering with human remains. They appeared in court on July 1. They have not been charged with causing her death.
Despite a press release having already being issued by the police, moves were then made in court to stop details about the case from being published and a take-down notice was issued to media.
At another hearing on July 4, details of the arrests and first court appearance were then allowed to be published.
Lanyue Xiao and Kaixiao Liu, who live in Auckland, had their bid for continued name suppression declined by the judge.
