DNA obtained in search to identify body

Police have obtained a DNA profile in their search to identify the woman whose body was pulled from Auckland’s Gulf Harbour.

But, according to Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams, the DNA doesn’t match anyone on record in New Zealand.

On March 12, retiree Paul Middleton was fishing when he made the grisly catch, reeling in what he thought at first was a “chunk of meat”.

A homicide investigation was then launched, with the priority being to establish who the body pulled from the harbour was.

Now, more than a week later, police have confirmed they “are making progress in the homicide investigation and have obtained a DNA profile of the victim”.

“While at this stage, the DNA does not match anyone in our records in New Zealand, we are hopeful this will assist us in finding out the identity of this victim.

“Our priority remains on confirming their identification and results of further examinations and tests are still pending,” Williams said.

Williams acknowledged that there are still “a number of questions surrounding the circumstances of what has occurred”.

Police previously revealed they believed it was of Asian descent - possibly Chinese.

Williams also described the woman as small in stature at approximately 160cm tall and estimated that she was middle aged.

The woman was wearing navy blue pyjama bottoms with pink hearts and a light coloured singlet when she was found, Williams said.

Crucially, the singlet is branded with a Chinese logo.

Stuff translated the logo as reading: “Juan Yan Brand, 80cm, Juan Yan Knitting Garment Factory”.

According to Chinese netizens, the brand of the pyjamas is thought to be old-fashioned, perhaps something an older woman would wear. Two shops with that name can be found in the Jiangsu province of China.