Michelle Hoffman-Tamm. Supplied photo
Police have confirmed a body discovered in a forest area
close to State Highway 38 near Murupara is that of missing
51-year-old Michelle Hoffman-Tamm, from Rotorua.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm's family had been advised.
A forensic examination of an address in Holland Street was
expected to continue for a couple more days, police said.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm's body was discovered on Friday afternoon.
Police said they received information connected to
Hoffman-Tamm's disappearance that led them to the search of
the patch of forest, 10km from Murupara.
A post mortem examination on the body took place in Auckland
yesterday.
A 44-year old woman appeared in Rotorua District Court on
Friday charged with assaulting Ms Hoffman-Tamm, who went
missing 18 days ago.
The Rotorua woman, who was granted interim name suppression,
did not enter a plea when she appeared before a community
magistrate and was remanded in custody to reappear in court
on December 3.
Since finding Ms Hoffman-Tamm's body, police have upgraded
their investigation to a homicide inquiry.
Ms Hoffman-Tamm disappeared after leaving her home on her red
mountainbike to visit a friend on November 7.
Her bike was found on Thursday in a Rotorua suburb.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.