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Police are defending the timing of their announcement that a body had been found in Pukekohe in the search for missing woman Te Anihana Pomana, after her family said they were distressed by how the information was released.
On November 24, police confirmed a body had been located in dense bush on the outskirts of Pukekohe. Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, Auckland Central Area Investigations Manager, said officers were notified at around 7.43pm on Saturday, November 22.
Formal identification is still to take place, but police believe the body is that of 25-year-old Pomana.
Whānau say they were not given enough time
In a post shared on the Always Ani Facebook page yesterday afternoon, Pomana’s whānau said they had not been given sufficient time to notify close relatives and friends before news of the discovery was made public.
“The media releases were done without official confirmation with formal identification, whānau hadn’t got the chance to inform many close to Te Anihana,” the family wrote.
“Apologies to anyone that has had to read and find this information out in this manner.”
A further update on the Givealittle page said the family was “devastated” while awaiting formal identification and that donations would be used to support the costs of returning Pomana home to Dunedin and covering funeral expenses.
Police response
“Police have made careful considerations around releasing further information in the investigation into Te Anihana’s disappearance,” Friend told the Franklin Times.
“The media statement on Monday was issued nearly two days after a body had been discovered. We have done this balancing the need to ensure whānau were informed while also taking the considerable public and media interest in this case into account.
“On Saturday night, colleagues in Counties Manukau advised that a body had been located in dense bush in Pukekohe. Enquiries at the scene strongly suggested that it was Te Anihana.
“I made contact with Te Anihana’s mother in the early hours of Sunday morning to notify her of this development.
“Through the course of Sunday and Monday, I have spoken to two other family members and a close friend of Te Anihana’s mother to provide an update and reassurance.”
Friend says is not uncommon for Police to provide information in missing persons enquiries such as this.
“We must take all enquiries and information into account as part of decision making.
“Police have taken care and ensured immediate family members were aware of this development before the update was issued on Monday afternoon. We have pointed out that formal identification is still to be carried out.”
He said the post-mortem was completed yesterday, and Te Anihana’s mother has been advised of the findings. Police will provide a further update once the formal identification process is completed.
“Our thoughts are with Te Anihana’s mother and her wider whānau during this incredibly difficult time,” Friend said.
Three months of searching
Pomana disappeared on August 21 after leaving SkyCity in central Auckland shortly after 5am and walking west along Victoria Street West. Despite extensive CCTV enquiries, police were unable to confirm any sightings after that point.
Her whānau, many of whom travelled from the South Island, worked alongside police to search for her. Multiple police appeals followed on September 5 and September 11, with investigators expressing increasing concern for her safety.
A Givealittle page set up by her sister, Ebony, supported whānau travel and search efforts, while a Facebook page, Always Ani, gained more than 6,000 followers and became a space for public updates and support.
