Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Police found the body of an elderly woman at a Burnham property after being called out to reports a teenager had allegedly assaulted another person inside the home.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and two charges of assault in a family relationship in relation to the incident.
Emergency services were called to an address on Burnham School Road about 3.05am after a report of disorder.
RNZ understands a relative of the 19-year-old called police after she was allegedly assaulted and she barricaded herself in a room.
It's understood that on arrival police tasered the 19-year-old.
They then found an elderly woman's body at the property.
Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons said in a statement that a 19-year-old had been charged with murder and two counts of assault in a family relationship.
The man appeared at Christchurch District Court on Tuesday afternoon via audio visual link and was granted interim name suppression.
He was remanded in custody ahead of another appearance next month.
Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
The property is on a long rural road surrounded by farmland.
Neighbours told RNZ it was usually a quiet district and they did not hear anything overnight.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said the death was "incredibly sad".
"It's actually a really lovely road to live on, neighbours all wave out to each other and I never heard a thing so it's a real shock," she said.
"There are properties scattered around this road and a busy preschool down the road."
Photo: RNZ/Nathan Mckinnon
Another neighbour said she woke up early to flashing police lights but did not hear anything unusual.
One man believed a family lived at the property. He said he had met them a couple of times over the years and they were pleasant.
He found out about the death after checking the news on Tuesday morning.
A blue police tent has been set up and the property has been cordoned off as forensic officers examine the scene.
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