Police have identified the woman burned to death by the side of a Waikato road last week. She was Ranjeeta Sharma, 28, of South Auckland.
Originally from Fiji, Ranjeeta’s body was found burning by the side of Hangapipi Rd in the rural township of Rotowaro, near Huntly, on Thursday.
Police said she was alive when she was set alight, and that an accelerant was used to start the fire.
New Zealand police have now launched an international hunt for her husband after he flew to Fiji with their four-year-old son the day after her body was found.
Head of investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall told media today the woman's husband was "a person of considerable significance" to the investigation and police were working with Interpol and overseas authorities to find him.
Police were not naming, or releasing any details about Ranjeeta’s husband.
"We are also working with overseas authorities to ensure the safety of the child.
"I would also like to reiterate that while we are seeking to speak to Ranjeeta's husband, we are keeping an open mind as to what, if any, involvement he has in this matter."
Ranjeeta’s car was found abandoned at Auckland Airport. Police here were forensically examining her silver Subaru station wagon, registration FSD433, and appealed for people who may have seen it or MRanjeeta in the Manukau or Huntly-Rotowaro areas on January 20 or 21 to contact them.
"A key focus of the inquiry now is establishing Ranjeeta's movements and how she came to be where her body was found,” Mr Keall said.
"Given the remoteness of the scene where Ranjeeta was killed, it's likely a vehicle was involved. Exactly which vehicle we don't know at this stage, so were doing tests to either confirm it was Ranjeeta's vehicle or eliminate it."
Mr Keall said a large proportion of the investigation team was brought to South Auckland because that was where she lived and worked.
Auckland Indian Society president Harshad Patel told the NZ Herald the killing had been a great shock for many in New Zealand's Indian community.
Speculation in the media that it was an "honour killing" was premature and it seemed unlikely to be the case, he said.
"In civilised societies you don't see this sort of thing, especially in New Zealand.
"I would be totally surprised if this was an honour killing."