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Police not looking for anyone else after discovery of two bodies in Wellington

Author
Melissa Nightingale,
Publish Date
Wed, 2 Apr 2025, 3:32pm
Police found the bodies overnight. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Police found the bodies overnight. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Police not looking for anyone else after discovery of two bodies in Wellington

Author
Melissa Nightingale,
Publish Date
Wed, 2 Apr 2025, 3:32pm
  •  during a welfare check requested by a relative.
  • Detective Inspector Haley Ryan confirmed today police were not seeking anyone in relation to the deaths.
  • A neighbour said 

Police say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the discovery of two dead bodies at a Wellington home.

About 10.25pm on Monday, a concerned family member asked police to carry out a welfare check on the occupants of the house in Palliser Rd, Roseneath.

鈥淭he officers who responded saw a need to force entry to the address, where they found two people deceased,鈥 Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said.

鈥淏ased on the results of a scene examination and other enquiries, we will be referring the case to the coroner.鈥

Ryan confirmed police were not seeking any other person.

鈥淧ost-mortems were completed today, and police will continue to have a presence in the area as we work to understand the reasoning behind this tragic incident.

鈥淲e would like to hear from anyone who may have information that can help our enquiries, and anyone with residential CCTV that captures traffic movements in the Roseneath area, particularly on Palliser Rd and surrounding streets, is asked to contact us.鈥

Please update us online now or call 105 and reference the file number 250401/2474 or 鈥淥peration Palliser鈥.

Police are continuing to provide support to next of kin.

Neighbour Paul Prestidge earlier described the deceased British couple as 鈥渟uper lovely people鈥.

He said he met the occupants of the home when he moved in a few months ago and the homeowner invited him and his wife to dinner.

The woman had owned the home for about 40 years and had two boarders, a British couple Prestidge believed were roughly middle-aged.

Police can be seen at a home on Palliser Rd in the Wellington suburb of Roseneath. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Police can be seen at a home on Palliser Rd in the Wellington suburb of Roseneath. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The group had shared a welcome dinner and would see each other on the properties鈥 shared walkway from time to time.

He said the couple were 鈥渧ery friendly people,鈥 giving an example of how they鈥檇 met a man on a flight and struck up a friendship to the point they invited him over to dinner.

They also had a son who did not live with them, he noted.

He believed the woman was a teacher.

Prestidge said he wasn鈥檛 aware anything was wrong until police knocked on his door shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

鈥淚 almost didn鈥檛 answer it. I鈥檝e never had that happen before.鈥

Police found the bodies overnight. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Police found the bodies overnight. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Police asked him whether he or his wife had seen the occupants recently.

He said he remembered seeing them the weekend before last but did not recall seeing them since then.

He does not know any details about what had happened and briefly questioned whether he should be worried, but said 鈥渢he police have been really friendly and organised so I鈥檓 sure they have it in hand.鈥

The home is found in one of the capital鈥檚 most expensive suburbs, surrounded by trees and perched high above the city鈥檚 harbour. The area is known for its million-dollar sea views and lofty house prices.

Police cars can be seen parked outside the home where the bodies were found. Photo / Melissa Nightingale
Police cars can be seen parked outside the home where the bodies were found. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.

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