Kawerau homicide victim named as Lorraine Hoeteim

Police have released the name of a 59-year-old woman found dead with serious head injuries at a home in Kawerau, following the expiry of an interim order that had prevented publication of her identity.

According to a report by Stuff, the woman was identified as Lorraine Teresa Hoete, of Whakatāne.

Police had earlier sought an interim order from the coroner to prevent the publication of Hoete’s name, but the restriction expired at 5 pm on Monday.

Police extended their deepest condolences to Hoete’s family and friends “during this immensely difficult time”, Stuff has reported.

The homicide investigation remains ongoing, with police saying they continue to “work hard to find answers for her family”.

According to Coroner Bruce Hesketh’s ruling, Hoete died from injuries sustained in an apparent assault at her home sometime between October 24 and 25.

Police were alerted to the address and discovered her body at 11.26 pm on October 25. She was found in a bedroom with traumatic injuries to her head and face, as reported by Stuff.

Hesketh said police were treating the death as a homicide.

Earlier that evening, at around 9.04 pm, police also attended a separate incident involving a collision between a car and a train on Te Puke Highway at Paengaroa, about 60km from Kawerau.

The driver of the car suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital.

Police had argued that releasing Hoete’s identity could lead to “speculation” about the circumstances surrounding her death and potentially interfere with their investigation, Stuff has reported.

Hoete and her family were closely involved in the Whakatāne Gardens Parkrun events. She was also the daughter of Keith Davies, who was associated with the Kawerau Swimming Club and died last year, as reported by Stuff.

Hundreds of people gathered in Whakatāne last week to farewell Hoete at her funeral.

Remembering their mother, her adult children described her as “the best mum anyone could wish for… the kindest, most caring, loving, sweet person; she didn’t have a bad bone in her body”, as quoted by Stuff.