Police said that Jacqueline Blackbourn, who came to New Zealand from England 20 years ago, suffered a violent death.
Her ex-boyfriend Steve Ellis, with whom she had recently broken up, was found with burns wearing only underpants in the back yard of the View Road, Glenfield, house on Saturday night.
He told neighbours that he had been unable to get Ms Blackbourn out of the house.
Police have yet to speak to Mr Ellis who is in an induced coma in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.
Investigation head Detective Sergeant Kim Libby said police hoped to speak to him in the next couple of days to get his take on what happened.
In the meantime a scene examination of the house would be continuing today.
Police said earlier they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.
Another former boyfriend of Ms Blackbourn, Karl Hawthorne, told The New Zealand Herald he saw her about two weeks ago and she did not seem happy after breaking up with Mr Ellis.
He said the pair had moved into the Glenfield house last year.
He was interviewed by police yesterday about his relationship with Ms Blackbourn.
