Three dead as stabbings shock beachside village

By LOUISA CLEAVE, JAMES GARDINER and NZPA

Two children were found stabbed to death inside a house at Otaki Beach, south of Levin, last night.

A third person, believed to be their father, was treated for stab wounds outside the Marine Parade house, but died at the scene.

A preschool-aged girl and her school-aged brother were already dead when the Square Trust rescue helicopter arrived at the house, said pilot Mike Hall.

Ambulance staff, who alerted police to the deaths at 5.20pm, were treating the man when the helicopter landed with three paramedics from Palmerston North Hospital.

The man died about 10 minutes later.

"The scene was distressing for all concerned," said Mr Hall.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan, of Palmerston North, said police were talking to a man who was present at the house.

The man had not been arrested and was not a suspect.

"But he is a very important part of the investigation because he was at the house and that is where the interest is," said Mr Sheridan.

News of the stabbings shocked Marine Parade residents, although close neighbours said they did not know the family who lived in the small fibrolite home.

The family, including the children's mother, had lived at the address for a number of years, said a neighbour who did not want to be named.

However, the house was left empty over Christmas.

The woman said the father and two children had recently returned to live there.

She had seen the trio playing on the front lawn and just a few nights ago they had all been at the beach.

"The little boy was running in and out of the water and he [the father] was digging holes in the sand with the little one.

"She was a dear little girl and the little boy was full of life," said the neighbour.

Detective Greg Caldwell, of Levin, said the alarm was raised by a friend of the family who found the bodies.

Mr Caldwell said he was not aware of anyone else being at the house.

Asked if he was dealing with a murder-suicide, he said: "I can't comment on that.

"At this stage we've started a homicide investigation."

The children's mother, from whom the father is separated, is believed to live in Porirua.

Large numbers of neighbours and relatives of the victims gathered near the house as news spread.

The property was to be sealed off overnight for a more extensive search this morning.