A homicide inquiry has been launched after a woman's body was discovered on a rural Canterbury road where firefighters were battling a series of suspicious fires.
The body of the unidentified woman, who police have told locals had been "missing for a little while", was discovered yesterday about 7.40pm on Main Rakaia Rd, 500m from State Highway 1, by a member of the public driving past.
Police said the death could be connected to a series of suspicious fires in the Selwyn area yesterday, and were looking for two people in a four-wheel-drive.
"Police are still working to piece together exactly what has happened, and there are a number of enquiries which are still to be made," Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney said in a statement today.
The woman's body had been removed from the scene, however police and specialist staff would stay there to complete further forensic examinations. The road remained closed.
"Police are still working to ascertain the cause of the woman's death, and a post-mortem is scheduled to take place tomorrow," Det Insp Sweeney said.
"However, the current circumstances lead us to believe this is a homicide investigation."
Police were working to complete a formal identification of the victim and would not name the woman until this had been done.
The manager of the dairy farm where the woman's body was found was told by police that she had been "missing for a little while".
The farmer, who only wanted to be known as Jori, knew about the fires in the area last night. But it wasn't until he got up about midnight that he saw police outside his property.
"I went to have a look and they told me there was a body there, a lady who had been missing for a little while," he said.
"[The body] was right by the boundary fence, between the farm and the road. They said they were looking for two occupants of a 4WD who had been in the Rakaia River."
Local dairy farmer Michael Norton said thieves stole two 20-litre containers of petrol from his farm on Main Rakaia Rd on Saturday night. He said they smashed the lock off a shipping container and targeted the petrol, leaving behind tools, a water blaster and pump of "more value than petrol".
Mr Norton noticed the break-in yesterday afternoon and reported it to police today.
Yesterday afternoon, a series of suspicious fires had been lit in the Selwyn riverbed near State Highway 1, just north of Dunsandel. It sparked a large emergency response, including four fire engines, 10 water tankers and three helicopters.
The Fire Service was first called to a blaze at the Selwyn River at 4.44pm. When they arrived, they found two fires, one on either side.
"Obviously the guys were running around the river, lighting them," said Rakaia Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Tyrone Burrowes, who was sure the fires had been started deliberately.
Two crews fought the fires, with assistance from a helicopter.
Later, at 7.37pm they were called to another scrub fire on Main Rakaia Rd.
The nearest unit was Kirwee Volunteer Fire Brigade. As they were on their way, the member of the public, a "passer-by", rang back to give them a "heads up" that there was a body there.
Mr Burrowes said crews put out the fire and protected the scene for police.
At 8.30pm, there were reports of another suspicious fire, this time at Overdale, south of Rakaia township. A Rakaia tanker and Dunsandel fire crew responded.
Mr Burrowes believed all of the fires were suspicious.
Anyone with any information in regard to suspicious vehicles or people in the area were asked to contact Christchurch Central Police Station on 03 363-7400 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
