Police have launched a homicide inquiry into the death of mother-of-eight Joanna Mai Sione-Lauaki. 

Also known as Jo or Jojo, Sione-Lauaki went missing night of Thursday, August 1. The next day her body was found on a remote stretch of beach, between Omamari and Aranga Beaches, 35km northwest of Dargaville. 

The 38-year-old is described as a great mother and an advocate for other women. 

Her husband Jared said he was texted “help” by Jo sometime between that Thursday night and 5.15am Friday morning. At her funeral, he spoke up, saying he was not involved in her death, after rumours were going around implying he could be involved. 

Despite concerns by her whānau, police have – up until now – maintained the death was unexplained. 

On August 26 – more than three weeks after the death – Detective Senior Sergeant Aaron Crawford appealed for information on a white 2012 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute. 

The vehicle was described as having no registration plates, an orange hazard light on the roof and aluminium dog cages on the back. It was believed to have been in the same area where Jo’s body was discovered. 

On Friday, police again appealed for information about this ute, along with Jo’s black Mitsubishi Outlander, which was found in the car park at Omamari Beach. 

Detective Inspector Al Symonds also appealed for information about Jo’s clothing: a white Nike T-shirt with a red tick, black or dark grey Everlast trousers, and red Adidas scuffs. 

Symonds said results of Jo’s post-mortem led police to launch the homicide inquiry. 

More to come