The Mount Albert community in Auckland is shocked and saddened by the death of a young woman near Ōwairaka Domain.
Flowers left at Ōwairaka/Mount Albert for Lena Zhang Harrap. Photo: RNZ / Liu Chen
Lena Zhang Harrap, 27, who had Down syndrome, failed to return home after going out for a walk on Wednesday morning.
Her body was found that afternoon in bush off a walkway and police launched a homicide investigation.
Flowers and cards have been laid at the entrance to the Mount Albert Ōwairaka Domain where Zhang normally took her walks.
Lucy Leslie brought flowers from her garden. She worked in special education and was devastated by what had happened.
"It's really important for people with special needs to be given independence and to have this end so badly really just is worst case scenario and not fair at all. These people should feel protected at all costs," she said.
Lena Zhang Harrap. Photo: Facebook / StarJam
Another local, Saybre Eustice, now had questions about how safe the neighbourhood was.
"We would assume everybody in our area is friendly and of good nature. Now we don't really want to be out walking if this is what's going on in our community," Eustice said.
Michael Field said he would pass Zhang a couple of times a week on top of Ōwairaka/Mount Albert.
"I sort of marked her as an independent kind of woman and although she clearly had issues, she was stoic and strong in her own way and to have this happen to one of us on the maunga, our maunga, is just horrible."
Kay McGarry felt shattered and said her heart broke for the family.
"We're all here. We're all still strong. We are still walking here. We're not leading this stop us keeping her memory alive by keeping walking here and and making sure we think of her."
Police are appealing for information about a man they say is of interest - he is described as dark-skinned, balding with a distinctive mark on his forehead. He was wearing a mask and a blue jumper.
