Police are asking the public to report sightings of a woman's red station wagon, as they investigate her death in Pahiatua, west of Palmerston North

Officers found her body at an Arthur Street home about 4.40 yesterday afternoon.

The property is under guard - and investigators on site.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Thompson says the woman's car is missing - and is appealing for sightings of the red Mitsubishi wagon, registration QGU91.

The car could be anywhere across the central North Island.