Police in Christchurch say they still need information from the public about the last movements of homicide victim Vanessa Pickering.
Searchers found the 27-year-old's body in Godley Head Reserve on the Port Hills on Thursday, two days after her seven-year-old daughter was found wandering north of Christchurch. Police say she died a violent death.
Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Le Bas says police are still building a picture of Ms Pickering's last movements based on sightings of her and the Blue Toyota Estima associated with her disappearance.
Her body was discovered on a steep bank about 300m from the Godley Head road leading to Taylors Mistake.
Ms Le Bas says the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but it was clearly not accidental and a homicide investigation is continuing. She says Ms Pickering suffered some trauma, but would not say if a weapon was used.
Police are not examining any other crime scenes and it is not known how long the body had been in the Port Hills.
Daughter found distraught in paddock
Ms Pickering was last seen alive leaving her home in the suburb of New Brighton with her seven-year-old daughter and a man on Monday night.
A passer-by found the distraught child in a paddock near Kaiapoi, north of Christchurch, early on Tuesday.
Ms Le Bas says Ms Pickering's family is struggling to accept her fate, but is grateful the body has been recovered.
She says the child is being cared for by family, and will need a great deal of help for years to come.
"Vanessa's daughter is obviously still really wishing her mother would come home. She's only seven and she's got a lot to go through."
Man in court on Thursday
A man police say is linked to Ms Pickering's disappearance appeared in Christchurch District Court on Thursday charged with sexual violation, unlawful detention and assault on a child. He was granted interim name suppression.
Ms Le Bas says it is too early to say whether other charges will be laid, or if anyone else will be sought in relation to the death.
