POLICE in New Zealand have launched a murder hunt after the body of a schoolgirl from Essex was found in a remote part of the country.

POLICE in New Zealand have launched a murder hunt after the body of a schoolgirl from Essex was found in a remote part of the country.

Former Colne Community School pupil Liberty Rose Templeman, 15, lived in Auckland with her family after emigrating in 2005.

She was last seen alive at about 7pm on Saturday night when she was dropped off to visit friends in the nearby town of Kerikeri, where the family used to live.

She did not return home and after a frantic search, her fully-clothed body was found at about 5pm the following day on the banks of the Wairoa Stream.

A spokesman for Whangarei police in New Zealand said detectives were now trying to piece together her final movements. It has been reported that officers have confirmed her death was not an accident.

Her parents Andy and Rebecca and brother William, 12, reportedly told journalists: “Liberty was a very bright, vivacious girl with a huge personality and big dreams.

“We are confident that she would always be successful in following her chosen path and acting was her passion.

“It's so unfair that our beautiful girl has been taken whilst still so young and with so much to give. We know that she will be missed terribly by all who knew her.”