Police in Christchurch have named a woman whose body was found on Friday in the Avon River.
She was Ngatai Lynette Manning, 27, also known as Malorie Manning.
Detective Inspector Greg Williams says she was a prostitute who worked in the Peterborough and Manchester Street area of Christchurch.
He says Ms Manning was last seen at her home, the night before she died about 9.30pm.
She was wearing a short red cotton skirt, a black cardigan, a blue bikini top with white dots and was carrying a black shoulder bag.
Police say she had severe injuries and a post mortem will be held on Saturday morning.
Her body was found in the Dallington Terrace area of the Avon River. Police say the watch she was wearing was stopped at 11pm. She was seen working the streets at about 10.15pm.
Divers were searching the river on Saturday.
Previous killing
The Prostitutes Collective says her death comes as a complete shock.
It is almost exactly three years since the killing of another prostitute, whose body was dumped in the same area of the Avon River.
