Body Found in Search for Missing Woman Te Anihana Pomana

A body has been discovered in dense bush near Pukekohe, Auckland, during the ongoing search for missing woman Te Anihana Pomana, also known as Ani Anderson. Pomana, aged 25, was last seen on August 21 after leaving SkyCity Hotel in the early hours, leaving all her belongings behind. CCTV footage showed her walking towards Victoria St West in Auckland's central city, before she vanished without a trace.

On Monday afternoon, police confirmed that they had been alerted to the discovery of a body in the Pukekohe area on Saturday evening at 7:43pm. While formal identification has yet to take place, police believe the body to be that of Te Anihana Pomana. Detective Sergeant Martin Friend stated that her family had been notified and were being provided with support during this difficult time.

An investigation into the circumstances of her death is currently underway, with a post-mortem examination planned to determine the cause of death.

Pomana’s family has been devastated by the news. In a heartfelt social media post, they described her as “literally one of the most beautiful human beings ever.” They described her as a “light” with “a heart pure gold,” someone who would “do absolutely anything for anyone,” and a “genuine beautiful old soul.”

The family had been actively searching for Te Anihana, organizing fundraising events like raffles and quiz nights to hire private investigators and offer a cash reward for any information about her whereabouts. In September, her mother, Catherine Anderson, made an emotional appeal to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward. “Someone must have seen her,” she said, adding, “We want to find her and take her home and keep her safe.”