Their bodies were found just before 9am yesterday after family members contacted local police with information, police said.
Police cars lined the leafy street today where the married couple lived, a neighbourhood populated by well-kept lifestyle blocks, many home to retired farmers.
At the bottom of the couple's tidy agapanthus-edged drive stood a security guard.
He stood next to a gate lined with police emergency tape.
These were the only obvious signs something was amiss on a usually quiet Saturday morning.
Neighbours along Porangahau Rd were reluctant to talk about the tragedy.
Teams of police were at the semi-rural property for most of the weekend trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Detective Rob Jones said an investigation was launched shortly before 9am on Saturday.
A forensic team from ESR was called in to examine the couple's home.
Yesterday police issued a statement saying they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker expressed sympathy but said she could not provide any more information about what happened.
"My condolences go out to the family and friends of those people involved, and also to the Police and emergency services that are involved."
She said she could not say more because "we have to respect the families and people involved in that situation".
