Rotorua homicides: Baby and toddler among three dead

The children found dead at a Rotorua property on Monday were aged 11 months and 3, police have confirmed.

A woman found critically injured at the Glenholme address on Monday died at the scene.

Police have opened a homicide investigation.

Bay of Plenty acting district commander Inspector Logan Marsh said police and specialist staff were forensically examining the scene today.

He said police were supporting the family after the traumatic incident.

“Our team are working tirelessly and meticulously through a complex scene, so we can provide answers for those impacted.

“An investigation of this nature will take some time and we thank the community for their patience.”

A hearse arrives at the scene of a triple homicide investigation in Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser

Marsh said additional reassurance patrols would continue in Glenholme and the wider community in coming days.

A woman who lives on the same street told the Rotorua Daily Post she heard arguing and “three pops” on the night of the tragedy.

Lynn Doak placed flowers outside the home this morning and described the deaths as “terrible”.

Doak, who has lived in the area for 24 years, said it was a quiet night on Monday when she heard a disturbance at the property.

“What I heard was two people arguing, a man and a woman, and a lady screamed,” she said.

“There was more argy-bargy and then there were three pops. I said to my husband, ‘Those bloody kids and their crackers again’, because they come up the street and throw crackers up your drive.

“It would have been just after 9pm.”

Doak thought nothing more of the sounds and did not hear anything further that night.

Rotorua resident Lynn Doak. Photo / Ben Fraser

The neighbourhood was quiet and nothing like this had happened before.

“This is a really good part of town,” she said.

Doak had not met the family but believed they hadn’t been at the address long.

She said she felt a deep sense of sadness.

“I just said to my husband, I feel like it’s my kids, you know. Hell, it’s terrible.

“You never hear of this sort of thing happening.

“They didn’t deserve that.”

Marsh had previously said the deceased children and a critically injured woman were found after police were called about 10.30pm on Monday.

The woman died at the scene despite efforts to save her.

Police were yesterday speaking to a man found at the scene.

A man later appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday afternoon charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship.

He appeared remotely via an audio-visual link, wearing white coveralls.

Judge Greg Hollister-Jones granted interim name suppression to the man and “three named” people.

He remanded the man in custody to reappear in court on October 2.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said the community was heartbroken.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and all those impacted.”

She acknowledged the emergency services personnel who attended the scene of the “horrific tragedy”.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell. Photo / Laura Smith 

Marsh said the tragedy would be felt well beyond those directly affected.

“We know this event will be felt widely in the community and people will want answers.”

Marsh said support was also being provided to police and ambulance staff who responded to the “extremely confronting scene”.

“Our focus now is on supporting the family, our first responders and getting answers to what occurred.”

Police at the scene of a triple homicide investigation in Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser 

Residents near the property described a significant police presence on Monday night, with officers conducting searches and making inquiries.

One resident said she saw police vehicles converge on the street, while another told media she was awakened by officers knocking on doors as they tried to find the source of the emergency call.

A hearse was at the scene last night.

This morning the quiet residential street remained under police guard with investigators continuing their work behind cordons.

Police urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation progressed, out of respect for the victims and their family.