Tributes are paid to ‘gorgeous’ Ellwood
A woman whose body was found in a boarding house was well-known in Auckland’s fashion scene, with the industry shocked to hear of her death.
It’s not yet clear how Tania Ellwood, a 39-year-old from the upmarket suburb of Remuera, came to die in a shabby boarding lodge better known as a halfway house for drug addicts.
Ellwood was described as an assistant manager in the electoral roll and she worked with high-profile brands including Charlie Brown, French Connection, and the Smith and Caughey department stores. Franky Burns, who employed Ellwood at Charlie Brown, described her as an ‘‘absolute angel’’.
‘‘She was just beautiful, caring, bright, bubbly.’’
Ellwood’s family was gathering at her parents’ $2.8 million home in Remuera Rd, where she lived. Father Bruce declined to comment.
Police are yet to comment further on the circumstances of Ellwood’s death.
On Thursday, they said she knew 36-year-old Timothy Kerr Hamilton, whose body was also found at the lodge, and were not looking for anyone else.
At the age of 25 she became a fashion and beauty editor for the Herald on Sunday.
Around 2006 she was also cast as Mandy Timmins on popular Kiwi soap Shortland Street,
although the role ended up being played by a different actor.