Samoan grandmother

Family fundraises to help with funeral of grandmother killed in her Onehunga home on her birthday

Brown, 77, was found dead in her home in Onehunga, Auckland on the morning of her birthday on Sunday last week.

Auckland Police have identified a person of interest in relation to Brown’s death which is now being investigated as homicide.

Homicide investigation launched after grandmother’s death in Auckland

Maria Brown was found dead at her home in Onehunga on Sunday morning after phone calls from a family member went unanswered.

There has been limited word from police on the circumstances of her death and no news of any arrests, but police say there is no threat to public safety.

"After the post-mortem examination, police can now confirm the death is being treated as a homicide investigation," Detective Inspector Scott Beard said.