The scene of a woman's death in Kaikohe this morning. Photo: Emma Stanford / RNZ
Police are still seeking the man who fled barefoot after breaking into a Kaikohe property where an elderly woman died on Thursday night.
A homicide investigation has been launched and police are working to establish what happened and find the intruder.
In a statement released late this afternoon, police said the victim was attempting to intervene to help members of her family in the house at the time.
Police said the man fled the scene, leaving behind a pair of shoes and another item of clothing which were being forensically examined.
The man was last seen running away barefoot and police said they would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed that.
Police said they could not identify the victim at this stage, but "the woman was a treasured member of the family".
But local Colleen Brennan said the victim was known in the Northland community, and was an elderly woman.
"I've just heard that it's one of our local kuias, one of our old kuis, and her children and her grandchildren will be devastated."
She said it has turned the community upside down.
"Absolutely gutted that it's happening in our town ... this does not happen in our town."
However, she felt that the people in the Kaikohe community would support one another like they always had.
"Our community will come together and pull together for the family that it's affected because that's how we are in Kaikohe. In doubt we come together."
Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston, Northland CIB, said police were ensuring there was support in place for those who were at the house when the incident took place.
"This is an absolutely devastating incident for this family, who are not only coming to terms with the sense of violation of someone entering their home but are now also grieving a vulnerable member of their whānau."
Some neighbours said they heard screaming late Thursday night, and they had been left feeling fearful and terrified - knowing that the intruder was still out there.
One resident of the street, who has lived there for more than three decades, said it is not as quiet as it once was.
"We've had those incidents with gangs and that not so long ago. That was quite frightening, but that settled."
However, the neighbourhood is not as tight as it once was, she said.
"It's just not the way it used to be, neighbours looking after neighbours, we don't have that kind of support."
The scene of Friday's homicide in Kaikohe. Photo: Emma Stanford / RNZ
But other residents said the area was usually tight-knit and safe.
RNZ spoke with Kerry Hilton, the trustee of Te Ara Hou, an organisation that offers training and employment in Kaikohe.
He said despite the circumstances, he still felt safe living there.
"There will be some people I'm sure who are very concerned, but personally we're not concerned for our safety at all."
The Far North mayor Moko Tepania said in a statement that the alleged homicide "appears to be an isolated incident."
As a Kaikohe resident himself, he said, it came as a shock.
"I want to emphasise that Kaikohe is a very tight-knit community.
"I encourage anyone who is feeling unsafe to please ask for help during what will be a difficult time for many."
"We send out aroha to the whānau affected."
The Far North's deputy mayor Kelly Stratford said although the community is in shock, people are rallying together in their grief.
"This hasn't happened in a long time, you get some flurries across every single community in New Zealand, but this is an awful event."
New Zealand First candidate Shane Jones, a former MP, called the events that led to the death an "evil act."
He said the quality of life in the north would continue to decay if crime was not dealt with.
"The sad reality is, the sense of community and the values that bind the community together have frayed."
He said he felt deeply sad that the level of crime had to led to the tragedy.
"Our quality of life, our civic values are under assault, and in some cases it's already too late as is the experience of this lady."
Detective Inspector Johnston said police would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area before or around the time of the incident and who may have seen something suspicious.
"It is understood the male has entered the property sometime between 11-11.20pm."
Anyone with information can contact the police through the 105 phone service and quote file number 230602/1746 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.