A 27-year-old man has appeared in the Whakatane District Court today charged with the murder of an Opotiki woman on Monday.

He has been granted interim name suppression by Judge Louis Bidois.

The identity of the deceased woman is also suppressed.

The appearance follows his arrest at an address in Te Kaha on Tuesday afternoon.

A murder investigation was launched after a woman was found dead in Wharf Street, Opotiki around 1.15pm on Monday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen says police were responding to reports of a domestic incident when they found the woman at a residential property near the CBD.

'It appears the deceased sustained injuries to her face and arms that have been fatal.”

The accused is being represented by Gene Tomlinson.

He has been remanded in custody until his next appearance at Tauranga High Court on March 14 and name suppression for both will continue until then.