Auckland City Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a woman in Mt Albert yesterday.

Lena Harrap went missing from her Mount Albert home after not returning from a walk early on Wednesday, she was later found dead.

The body of a female was located deceased yesterday afternoon in an area of bush off a walkway between Grande Ave and Summit Drive.

While formal identification is yet to be completed at this time, Police believe the deceased is local woman Lena Zhang, also known as Lena Zhang Harrap, who was reported missing yesterday after going for a morning walk.

Lena’s family are understandably distraught at this development and request privacy and ask for media not to contact them.

Media are invited to attend a press conference at the Mt Roskill Police Station, 142 Stoddard Road, at 4.30pm where Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe will provide further details about the homicide investigation.