The man charged with murdering 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush is a medical professional.

Amber was found dead at her Clermiston Ave home, in the Dunedin suburb of Corstorphine, on Saturday morning.

Police initially said the death was "unexplained" but announced this morning that a man, 30, who was known to the teen, had been charged with her murder.

The accused appeared before Justice of the Peace Russell Atkinson in the Dunedin District Court this afternoon where he was granted interim name suppression after the death of Amber-Rose Rush on Friday.


Defence counsel Sarah Saunderson-Warner said police were not opposed to the application.

Atkinson said the defendant's name had been published online on two websites and asked whether the "horse had bolted".

Saunderson-Warner said it was the responsibility of individuals who posted such material to remove it from the internet.

The defendant was remanded in custody by consent and will next be up before the High Court in February 20.

Friends and family of the victim sat in the public gallery and called out "oi" to the man in the dock.

When he turned to face him they issued several expletives.

When the defendant was led back to the cells, one man ran up to the railing of the gallery, pointed at him and said "you're dead c***".

Other claims they made cannot be published.


The accused was known to the victim and police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the death, police said.

Police and forensic staff were at the Clermiston Ave property throughout the weekend.

A cordon protecting the crime scene was established after the death was classified as "unexplained" and it was released back to the occupants at midday today.

Supporters of the victim refused to comment as they left court.

Amber's mother, Lisa Ann, paid tribute to her "best friend" and daughter on Facebook.

"How do I put into words what u mean to me my baby girl, u are literally my other half, my soul, my heart, my everything," she wrote.


"She was not only a daughter, but a best friend, I cannot begin to explain how this feels."

Another post said: "I don't know how to be without you, I cannot see a way to live without you, your everything to me, to all of us, you may be the baby of the family, but you are and will forever be the heart and soul of our family."

The teenager's sister, Shantelle, also posted on Facebook about the loss.

"My baby sister," her post read.

"She was only 16 ... and took all our hearts with her."

- Additional reporting NZ Herald