A man charged with murder after a woman's death in Grey Lynn has been referred to a psychiatric hospital.

A lawyer for the 31-year-old man, who cannot be identified, appeared in the Auckland District Court this afternoon.

The defendant, who is in custody, did not appear in person in court or via audiovisual link.

The judge, Steve Bonnar, ordered that the man be detained at the Mason Clinic.

The defendant will appear in the Auckland High Court on August 24.

Emergency services responded to the incident on Cockburn St in Grey Lynn at about 8.25am on Saturday morning.

The woman was found by a member of the public with critical injuries and died shortly afterwards, police said.

A man was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. He was known to the woman, police said.

Firefighters used a crowbar to bring down a fence to gain access the man, who was later taken into custody.

When the Herald visited the area late on Sunday, cordons remained in place at both properties where the woman died and the Dryden St property where the man was taken.

Police officers in boiler suits were seen walking around the area, with uniformed officers guarding the entrances of both properties.

Flowers had been left at the scene outside the Cockburn St house.