Watchers grieve as bodies removed

William and Deborah Rerekura lived with their four grown children in this house. Herald picture / Amos Chapple

The bodies of William and Deborah Rerekura were removed from their Taupo home late yesterday, as a large group of confused and grieving whanau watched over the property from a hillside home opposite the scene.

The removal of the dead couple follows Saturday's murder-suicide, which occurred after a four-hour stand-off between police and the occupants of the home.

ESR scientists are expected to complete their scene examination today.

The property has several sleep-outs in its backyard, including at least four caravans.

Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said police had not fired any shots during the seige, but had thrown in smoke bombs at the same time that gunshots went off inside the house.

Attempts to make voice contact with the couple inside had been unsuccessful throughout the afternoon.

The bodies of Mr and Mrs Rerekura were found in a bedroom.

Mr Jeurissen said the Police Complaints Authority was being brought in to investigate. Their focus would be on whether standard operating procedures were observed, how the armed offenders squad was deployed, and the tactics police had used.

"It is unfortunate that we were not able to control the outcome."

Mr Jeurissen said that during the day there had been "some disquiet" between the husband and wife.

At one stage two siblings had been in the home, he said.

About 1.21pm a family member had contacted police, concerned about a firearm being held inside the home, Mr Jeurissen said.

"The father [had] gone and threatened to kill the mother."

The couple had four children, aged between 17 and 22. All four lived at home but none was present when the afternoon drama began.

It is understood Mr Rerekura, 41, was unemployed. Mrs Rerekura, 39, had worked for a considerable time at the nearby Pak'nSave.

Pak'nSave owner Trevor Jones said through an employee that Mrs Rerekura was a "lovely woman and a good worker", but he declined to make further comment.

Neighbours Toni Williams and Bugs Durham said the family were "happy go lucky" and the neighbours had never seen any previous sign of trouble.

The bodies of the dead couple are today in Auckland for an autopsy.

It is expected they will then be released and transported to Rohoto Marae near Taupo.

Members of the extended family occupy four separate properties on Noble St, all within metres of each other.

Most family members were too devastated to speak to any media yesterday, but one relative - who said he was a McLaughlin - said he had been to the house early on Saturday.

He had been asked to quell some trouble that was brewing, but did not see anything out of the ordinary when he showed up.

Later he was phoned by another family member and was told he had better get back to the house.

But he was too late. By that time police had cordoned off the street.

Mr Jeurissen said it appeared a sawn-off rifle, either a .303 or similar, had been used in the killings.

Police would investigate whether the firearm was being held illegally.

It is understood that in 2002 Mrs Rerekura took out a protection order against her husband.

Both are from well-known and long-established families in the area, the McLaughlins and Samuels.

Mr Jeurissen said there were two different types of families he was dealing with, but there was no tension or rift between them.