Police are continuing investigations at a Nelson property where a woman's body was found on Thursday. 

Police started a homicide investigation after the 39-year-old Richmond woman was found dead in her Salisbury Rd flat at 6.30pm on Thursday.

She was found by a family member who decided to check the house after the woman did not arrive at work. 

Detective Inspector Geoff Jago said power was cut to houses and businesses in the immediate vicinity for about to hours yesterday evening to assist with forensic testing.

Interviews with friends and associates of the dead woman are continuing today and the pathologist will complete the post mortem.

Jago said the woman had been assaulted at the flat but he was not prepared to comment further.

Police were trying to contact the people the woman had been in contact with recently.

He said family members had indicated the woman had recently ended a relationship, and police were trying to locate her former partner.

The woman's name would not be released until an autopsy had been completed and the family had formally identified her.

- © Fairfax NZ News