'I just can’t believe it': Shock as three people dead at South Auckland home

Police have launched an investigation after the deaths of three people in South Auckland last night. 

Counties Manukau CIB Detective Inspector Karen Bright said police were called to a Papatoetoe house around 6.40pm after reports that a person was found dead at the property. 

“Upon arrival, police have located this person, as well as two additional people within the home who were also pronounced deceased. 

“While our investigation is in the early stages, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection to what has occurred.” 

One Cambridge Tce resident who lives opposite the property said they saw a man lying dead on the home’s front steps. 

“We were having dinner and my daughter saw police cars go past, so I opened the door to look and saw him. Lots of us on this side of the road did.” 

They told the Herald the man has two primary-aged children. 

“Not even an hour prior I saw him, he was outside on the steps with his kids.“ 

They said nothing seemed unusual at the time. 

Police say there is no threat to the wider community after three bodies were found in a Cambridge Tce property last night. 

A woman who lives next door to the property said she “really got along” with the man who lived at the address. 

“It’s just the man, his two kids and his father who live there. 

“I’ve never heard anything bad, we keep in touch regularly and look after each other, we always tell each other what’s happening on the street.” 

Flowers have been left at the front of a property this morning where three people died. 

Police this morning said they do not believe there was any risk to the wider public. 

“We are waiting for the completion of the scene examination, which will help us piece together the circumstances that led to this tragic event,” Bright said. 

“Police recognise events like this hit at the hearts of our communities, and we are doing everything we can to answer the many questions around this devastating incident.” 

While the investigation was ongoing, Police were providing wrap-around support to the whanāu of the dead, and the neighbours. 

The street was cordoned off last night. Photo / Hayden Woodward 

Emergency services were called to an address on Cambridge Tce at 6.40pm to reports of a “serious incident”. 

Residents could expect to see an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continued, Bright said. 

Another neighbour told a Herald reporter at the scene they were badly shaken when they heard of the incident. 

“I just bloody bawled my eyes out. I can’t believe it. They’re a good family,” they said. 

“Just bloody hell. I just can’t believe it. You see this on the news. 

”I’m just absolutely in shock.” 

Cambridge Tce remains cordoned off as police investigate serious incident. Photo / Hayden Woodward. 

Another resident said a family lived at the address but didn’t know anything else, while a person close to the cordon said they heard sirens and saw emergency service vehicles but only knew what had been reported in the news. 

“I never heard anything from that house it’s usually pretty quiet,” said another. 

A Herald photographer at the scene said police had cordoned off Cambridge Tce at the intersection with Bridge St and about 80m on the opposite side of the house involved. 

A tarpaulin had been secured between a fire truck and a tree for scene protection, while a gazebo had been placed outside the property. 

Forensic officers wearing coveralls were working at the scene, and a police photographer could be seen documenting the area. 

Police have asked people to avoid the area.