Two killings tear families apart

Eleven children were left motherless after two homicides yesterday.

The killings at opposite ends of the North Island horrified Women's Refuge advocates.

Counties Manukau police launched a murder inquiry after a mother of six was found dead in her Otara home just after midnight yesterday.

Her 25-year-old cousin, who has a 7-year-old daughter, was in Auckland City Hospital last night with life-threatening head injuries.

Porirua police are investigating the killing of a mother of five, stabbed to death at Titahi Bay beach yesterday morning.

Women's Refuge spokeswoman Sheryl Hann called for an inquiry to find out more about the dead women, including things such as how well they were supported and why they were unprotected.

"Women are dying daily in their own homes. Families' lives are being destroyed. What is being done about it? The government needs to take urgent action," she said.

"It's a sad indictment on our country that women and children aren't safe in their own homes."

Ms Hann said family violence should be the number one social issue and receive "realistic" funding, to prevent more loss of life.

Child Abuse Prevention Services chief executive Heather Henare said: "Eleven more children have lost their mother. When are we going to take children's lives seriously?"

The woman who died at Titahi Bay, north of Porirua, had children aged between 5 and 11.

Strangers watched as the woman was stabbed with a knife several times in a car. It was her 33rd birthday.

Detective Inspector Rod Drew said the onlookers were unable to prevent the 10.45am attack.

A 32-year-old Porirua East man was arrested at the scene and will appear in the Porirua District Court today charged with murder.

Police understand the couple recently separated and the man arrested had been seeking a reconciliation.

In the Otara attack, two teenage girls allegedly saw their mother brutally murdered and her cousin critically injured, as the younger children slept.

Police said a machete and pieces of wood were found at the property in Gilbert Rd.

A man who also lived at the address was found behind the property with minor injuries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Gutry said the women were asleep in the lounge when they were attacked.

The dead woman's six children, aged between 2 and 16 years, were all in the house at the time.

Neighbours said police had been to the address before.

A family friend of the 25-year-old in hospital said she was in a medically induced coma after undergoing surgery and the next 48 hours were critical.

"There's a really strong chance she will have permanent brain damage."

The friend said the injured woman, a factory worker for Big Ben pies, had a 26-year-old sister who was also at the address when the attack happened and was traumatised.

Latu Taufui, who lives next door to the family, said the adults of the house would come and go during the day and had loud parties.

She said a party was held every weekend when the family moved in. People would spend the day drinking in the back yard and Mrs Taufui said she would sometimes hear fighting.

"Sometimes they're up for the whole night.

"They would be yelling, swearing."

A 36-year-old man was yesterday charged with murder, assault and threatening to kill.

He will appear in court this morning.

- additional reporting: Bridget Carter