The British couple found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in New Zealand have been identified by local media as Claire and Ben Anderson.
The couple, believed to have been in their 50s, were found late on Monday after police forced their way into a rented property in the upmarket suburb of Roseneath.
Neighbour Emma Prestidge told the New Zealand Herald that they had only recently moved from London to Wellington and were ‘dream neighbours’.
‘The lady said to me that … previously in London, she felt a little bit unsafe wherever she went. In New Zealand, she just felt … a sense of calm and just felt like she was able to really enjoy her life here,’ she said.
Ben Anderson had been living and working in New Zealand, while Claire had settled with him in December, a neighbour told local media.
He is believed to have worked in academia at universities in Britain and New Zealand, while she worked as a teacher.
The couple had adult children living in the country, and had been considering moving to Otago to be closer to them, the neighbour said.
They were found late on Monday night after police were contacted by a family member concerned with their welfare.
In the wake of their deaths, the couple were described by their landlord as ‘passionate about being in NZ and giving their family the experience of living here.’
‘Both they and their family lived life to the absolute full and were always planning or doing amazing adventures,’ the landlord said of ‘my British lodgers’.
‘He was a clever, caring, charming man. She was vibrant, kind, intelligent and both of them made friends wherever they went. They were both absolutely wonderful human beings.’
‘They were both such positive and incredible parents, friends, and members of many communities.
‘We send our love and condolences to their [family] and friends.’
Police said they were supporting the family.
Neighbour Paul Prestidge told local media that the couple were ‘very friendly people’, with whom he would have dinner parties.
He said that the couple had a son who did not live with them.
Prestidge said he believed the woman may have been a teacher.
He said he remembered seeing the couple the week before last, but did not recall if he had seen them more recently.
Emma Prestidge told Radio New Zealand that they had moved from London.
‘My understanding is they’d finally… packed up their lives in London and all their stuff was in a shipping container, and they were kind of looking to move here for good.
‘They were… in the next phase of their life, I guess, and ready to kind of set themselves up for the next part of their chapter, which is… truly sad.’
Police are still conducting inquiries, and have told local residents to expect an increased presence in the area.
They said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
It is not currently known how the British couple died, but Detective Inspector Haley Ryan from New Zealand Police said: ‘I want to provide assurance that there is no ongoing risk to the Roseneath community.’
A FCDO spokesperson said last night: ‘We have not been approached for consular assistance in this case, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7.’
A statement from the New Zealand police read: ‘We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that can help our enquiries, and anyone with residential CCTV that captures traffic movements in the Roseneath area, particularly on Palliser Road and surrounding streets, to contact Police.
‘Please update us online now or call 105, and reference the file number 250401/2474 or ‘Operation Palliser’.’
MailOnline contacted the FCDO for comment.
