'Tragic': Woman found dead in West Auckland was 'kind, funny and passionate'

Author: Joel Kulasingham,
Publish Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2026, 9:10am

Wolvnie Ding (left) and Shuyan Liu in 2022. Photo / Shuyan Liu

A 20-year-old Auckland woman found dead after going missing for six days has been remembered as a kind, funny and passionate person who showed she cared through actions instead of words.

Police believe a body recovered in the Swanson area on Thursday is Wolvnie Ding, who was last seen walking along Birdwood Rd about 8.20am last Friday.

Ding lived in Auckland CBD but had been visiting family in West Auckland when she disappeared, police said earlier this week.

One of her closest and oldest friends, Shuyan Liu, told the Herald they were informed on Thursday that Ding’s body was found in a body of water close to her family home.

Shuyan said they will miss Ding’s sense of humour, deep chats about “serious life topics” and her fun personality.

“It’s one of those things where you never expect it to happen to someone you know personally,” they said, calling it a “tragic” loss.

Wolvnie Ding has been remembered as kind, funny and passionate. Photo / Shuyan Liu

Shuyan said Ding was “a woman of few words” who instead showed she cared through her actions.

“In her presence, it just felt like we understood each other. It was a very comfortable, unspoken understanding. And I’m sure that a lot of other people who have interacted with her would say the same.

“She was a very accepting, very kind person, and she shows her care through action a lot more than words.

“I loved laughing with her. She was a very funny person. Every time we talked, it felt like it was a coming-of-age movie from the early 2010s.”

Police said while formal identification of the body is still underway, they believe the body found on Thursday is that of Ding.

“Police extend their deepest condolences to the woman’s family at this incredibly difficult time,” acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie, of Waitematā CIB, said.

“Family members have been informed and are being supported by police. Police would like to thank those who assisted in search efforts.

“Her death will be referred to the coroner.”

A body found in Swanson is believed to be that of Wolvnie Ding. Photo / NZ Police

Shuyan said Ding loved to write, was a big fan of indie rock artist Phoebe Bridgers and the band Boygenius, and was passionate about feminist issues.

“A lot of the media that she would listen to and watch, a lot of it is talking about women’s issues.

“I think that if she could speak to everyone in the world, she would be speaking about women’s rights. So I want everyone who cares about her to honour her by spending more time reading and talking about these kinds of issues.”

In a tribute on Instagram, Shuyan described Ding as “one of the most gentle, thoughtful, passionate, inquisitive, gorgeous and resilient people I have ever had the honour of getting to know”.

“She was one of the few people who made me feel understood, cared for and appreciated without even saying a word. I wish I could go back and spend so much more time with her.”