New Zealand police said Sunday they found a body they believe to be that of missing 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane.

Police said the body was in a forested area about 10 meters (33 feet) from the side of the road in the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland.

Tourist Grace Millane has been missing since Dec. 1, and failed to contact her family on her birthday Dec. 2.

On Saturday, a 26-year-old man was charged with murder in her case after he was detained for questioning. He is due to make his first court appearance on Monday.

Millane was on a planned yearlong trip abroad that began in Peru. She arrived in New Zealand last month and was last seen entering a central Auckland hotel with a man on the evening of Dec. 1.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters near the crime scene in the Waitakare Ranges that police believe Millane's body was taken to the area in a rental car that was later left in the town of Taupo.

Police spent several hours searching the area, which they cordoned off and where they put up a tent, before making the announcement.

"This area was identified late last night as a location of interest as a result of our investigative work," Beard said. "I can now advise that a short time ago, we located a body, which we believe to be Grace. A formal identification process will now take place, however, based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days, we expect that this is Grace."

Millane's father David Millane traveled from Britain to New Zealand last week.

"It is an unbearable time for the Millane family, and our hearts go out to them," Beard said.

Before she vanished, Millane had been staying at a backpacker hostel in Auckland, and she left some of her belongings there. Beard said she met a man for a couple of hours on the evening of Dec. 1 before surveillance cameras showed them entering the CityLife hotel at about 9:40 p.m.

Her family was surprised and worried when she didn't contact them on her birthday or get in touch over on the days that followed.

After arriving in New Zealand on Friday, David Millane spoke with media.

"Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-oriented daughter," he said, adding that she was usually in touch with her family every day.

"She arrived here on the 20th of November, and has been bombarding us with numerous photographs and messages of her adventures," Millane said. "We are all extremely upset, and it's very difficult at this time to fully describe the range of emotions we are going through." </s> The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Sunday they found a body they believe to be that of missing 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane.

Police said the body was in a forested area about 10 meters (33 feet) from the side of the road in the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland.

Tourist Grace Millane has been missing since Dec. 1, and failed to contact her family on her birthday Dec. 2.

On Saturday, a 26-year-old man was charged with murder in her case after he was detained for questioning. He is due to make his first court appearance on Monday.

Millane was on a planned yearlong trip abroad that began in Peru. She arrived in New Zealand last month and was last seen entering a central Auckland hotel with a man on the evening of Dec. 1.

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Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters near the crime scene in the Waitakare Ranges that police believe Millane’s body was taken to the area in a rental car that was later left in the town of Taupo.

Police spent several hours searching the area, which they cordoned off and where they put up a tent, before making the announcement.

“This area was identified late last night as a location of interest as a result of our investigative work,” Beard said. “I can now advise that a short time ago, we located a body, which we believe to be Grace. A formal identification process will now take place, however, based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days, we expect that this is Grace.”

Millane’s father David Millane traveled from Britain to New Zealand last week.

“It is an unbearable time for the Millane family, and our hearts go out to them,” Beard said.

Before she vanished, Millane had been staying at a backpacker hostel in Auckland, and she left some of her belongings there. Beard said she met a man for a couple of hours on the evening of Dec. 1 before surveillance cameras showed them entering the CityLife hotel at about 9:40 p.m.

Her family was surprised and worried when she didn’t contact them on her birthday or get in touch over on the days that followed.

After arriving in New Zealand on Friday, David Millane spoke with media.

“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-oriented daughter,” he said, adding that she was usually in touch with her family every day.

“She arrived here on the 20th of November, and has been bombarding us with numerous photographs and messages of her adventures,” Millane said. “We are all extremely upset, and it’s very difficult at this time to fully describe the range of emotions we are going through.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards. </s> MELBOURNE: New Zealand police said on Sunday that they believe they found the body of a missing 22-year-old British woman after charging a 26-year-old man with her murder.

Grace Millane, who was travelling the world after finishing university, went missing on Dec. 1 in Auckland. On Saturday the police said that she was murdered and that they were questioning a man about the case.

Late on Saturday the 26-year-old man was charged with Millane's murder, Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters. The man, whose name was withheld, is due in court on Monday morning.

Police found the body following a search of a bush area in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges. The body had not yet been formally identified, but it was believed to be that of Millane, Beard said.

"Obviously, this brings the search for Grace to an end," Beard said. "It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them."

He added that Millane's family, including her father who has flown to New Zealand on Friday, has been informed. Asked how the father was doing, Beard said, "Any father, any parent in this situation would struggle." </s> WELLINGTON, Dec 10 — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears Monday while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Millane, whose body was found yesterday in parkland just outside Auckland.

“There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga,” she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

“So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family — your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that.”

Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Millane's family and were feeling her death personally.

Millane disappeared on December 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family's worst fears were confirmed when her body was found yesterday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until January 23.

Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his “fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated” daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday's brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

“I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate,” he said.

“All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.” — Reuters </s> New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears Monday while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Millane, whose body was found Sunday in parkland just outside Auckland.

“There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga,” she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

“So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family — your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Millane’s family and were feeling her death personally.

Millane disappeared on December 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family’s worst fears were confirmed when her body was found on Sunday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until January 23.

Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his “fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated” daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday’s brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

“I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate,” he said.

“All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace.” </s> WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern choked back tears on Monday (Dec 10) while offering a heartfelt apology to the family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane, as the man accused of killing the young traveller made his first court appearance.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Ms Ardern said there was a collective feeling of shame in the South Pacific nation over the fate of Ms Millane, whose body was found on Sunday in parkland just outside Auckland.

"There is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga," she said, using the Maori word for welcoming others.

"So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace's family - your daughter should have been safe here and she wasn't, and I'm sorry for that."

Ms Ardern told reporters at her weekly media conference that New Zealanders were heartbroken for Ms Millane's family and were feeling her death personally.

Ms Millane disappeared on Dec 1, on the eve of her 22nd birthday, and her family's worst fears were confirmed when her body was found on Sunday.

The death has shocked New Zealand, which is usually regarded as a safe place to travel and averages less than 50 homicides a year in a population of 4.8 million.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Auckland District Court on Monday and was charged with her murder.

Wearing a blue prison-issue boiler suit, he was not required to enter a plea and was remanded in custody until Jan 23.

Ms Millane was on a year-long worldwide holiday after graduating from university and had been in New Zealand for two weeks after travelling around South America for more than a month.

It was her first solo overseas trip and her family became alarmed when she failed to maintain her habit of staying in daily contact.

Police had previously said she was last seen alive entering an inner-city hotel in Auckland with a man.

Her father David flew to New Zealand after she went missing and issued an emotional appeal for information relating to his "fun-loving, outgoing and family-orientated" daughter.

Judge Evangelos Thomas opened Monday's brief court proceedings by addressing the family, Radio New Zealand reported.

"I do not know what to say to you, your grief must be desperate," he said.

"All of us hope justice is fair and swift and ultimately brings you some peace." </s> New details about the man accused of murdering British backpacker Grace Millane can now be revealed.

The 26-year-old will appear in the Auckland District Court today.

Ms Millane was last seen on CCTV on Saturday, December 1 entering the CityLife Hotel in central Auckland with a 26-year-old man who was now in police custody.

The New Zealand Herald has viewed court documents that state who the man is, what he is alleged to have done and where he is from.

Until he has appeared in court his name cannot legally be published.

This is to allow for any applications for interim name suppression to be made and is standard when a person has not yet appeared before a judge.

But the Herald can reveal that the man is alleged to have murdered Grace between December 1 and 2.

The man is listed as living on Queen St - the same address as CityLife Hotel where Millane was last seen alive.

His occupation is not listed.

Millane's body was found in a section of bush just 10m off Scenic Drive in West Auckland's Waitakere Ranges yesterday.

She was found a week after her 22nd birthday.

The Essex woman, who recently graduated from university, came to New Zealand as part of a year-long solo OE.

She arrived in Auckland just days before she was killed.

Millane was last seen on CCTV on Saturday, December 1 entering CityLife Hotel with a 26-year-old man.

That man has been charged with her murder.

Police have not confirmed how the pair met.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard yesterday released two photos of a 2016 red Toyota

Corolla hatchback linked to Millane's death.

The car was hired from a central Auckland rental company just before lunchtime last Sunday and was later found in Taupo.

The investigation team were now calling on anyone who saw the vehicle in the West Auckland area between 6am and 9.30am last Monday, December 3, to contact them.

Beard, visibly emotional after delivering the news to Millane's family and then the media that a body had been found, said the focus of the investigation was now to piece together exactly what happened to the young woman.

"It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them," he said.

Beard said Millane's body was found as a result of "investigative work".

Yesterday a team of 18 police officers, including forensic experts, spent the morning gathering evidence in a patch of manuka and scrub off a layby not far from the Waitakere dam carpark.

Officers dressed in white overalls were seen exiting the bush carrying clear bags. Large tents were erected on the side of the road and there were numerous police cars, both marked and unmarked.

By 4pm they had found her body.

"The formal identification process will now take place, however based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days, we expect that this is Grace," said Beard.

Since news broke that Millane's body had been recovered, support for her family has been swelling around the world.

In New Zealand a number of vigils to honour Millane are being planned. In Auckland a peace walk is also being organised for this Saturday, along Queen St in the CBD.

Grace Millane embarks on a year-long solo OE, starting in South America at the end of October, before she arrives in New Zealand on November 20.

She travels around the upper North Island, including Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga.

Grace arrives in Auckland and checks into the Base Backpackers Hostel.

Grace makes contact with her family - the last time they will hear from her after daily messages back and forth.

Grace is captured on CCTV leaving Andy's Burgers & Bar, on the first level of SkyCity, at 7.15pm.

Later, at 9.41pm, Grace is captured again on CCTV, entering the CityLife Hotel on Queen St with a man.

Family become concerned after Grace doesn't respond to messages wishing her a happy 22nd birthday.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard says police have "grave fears" for her safety.

Just after 3pm, police take in to custody the man, 26, Grace was with at the hotel and find a "vehicle of interest".

At 5pm, Beard announces the investigation is now a homicide inquiry.

A body believed to be Grace is found in the Waitakere Ranges. </s> WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A man accused of killing 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane made his first appearance in a New Zealand court Monday.

Media reports say the 26-year-old man stared at the ground while a judge addressed him during the brief appearance at the Auckland District Court. The man has not yet entered a plea on murder charges and his name has been temporarily suppressed.

The case has riveted people both in Britain and New Zealand.

Described by her father as fun-loving and family-oriented, Millane had been travelling in New Zealand as part of a planned yearlong trip abroad that began in Peru. She went missing Dec. 1, and police on Saturday detained a man for questioning. </s> New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has given an emotional apology to the family of British backpacker Grace Millane, saying: “Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Ms Millane, 22, went missing from a hostel in Auckland on December 1 and a body was found in the Waitakere Ranges on Sunday.

A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder and appeared in an Auckland court on Monday.

Speaking to reporters about the death, Ms Ardern said: “I cannot imagine the grief of her family and what they would be experiencing and feeling right now.

READ MORE: Devastated brother of Grace Millane pays tribute after backpacker’s body found

“My thoughts and prayers are with her father David, who is in the country, her mother Gillian, who cannot be here, and her wider family, friends and loved ones.

“From the Kiwis I have spoken to, there is this overwhelming sense of hurt and shame that this has happened in our country, a place that prides itself on our hospitality, on our manaakitanga (a Maori term meaning kindness and generosity) especially to those who are visiting our shores.”

Appearing to become choked with emotion, the PM added: “So on behalf of New Zealand, I want to apologise to Grace’s family.

“Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that.”

Earlier on Monday her alleged murderer, who can not be named, faced court for the first time.

Judge Evangelos Thomas told members of the Millane family, who were in court: “Your grief must be desperate.

“All of us hope justice for Grace is fair, swift and ultimately brings you some peace.”

Documents submitted to the court suggested police believe the University of Lincoln graduate was killed between December 1 and 2, her birthday.

A charge sheet also listed the suspect as living at the hotel where she was last seen alive.

READ MORE: Grace Millane: New Zealand police to charge man with murder of backpacker

Detectives said they had identified a “location of interest” after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday afternoon, Detective Inspector Scott Beard said investigators had “located a body which we believe to be Grace” about 10 metres from the roadside.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Millane was at 9.41pm on December 1, the day before her birthday, at the Citylife Hotel, when she was seen with a “male companion”.

Since arriving in New Zealand from Peru on November 20, she had been in near-daily contact with her family.

Police received a missing person report on Wednesday and began a major search and public campaign that saw dozens of calls made to a helpline.

Ms Millane’s father, David Millane, flew to Auckland and made a public appeal for help finding his daughter, who he described as “lovely, outgoing, fun-loving (and) family-orientated”.

Her brother, Declan Millane, paid tribute by sharing pictures on social media of him and his sister, adding the lyrics of You Are My Sunshine.

He wrote on Instagram: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
The body of missing tourist Grace Millane is found outside of Auckland, New Zealand.