Feilding victims died of gunshot wounds - police

Deborah Honeyfield. Photo / Facebook

The three people discovered dead in a house on the outskirts of Feilding on Monday all died from gunshot wounds, post-mortem examinations have found.

Desmond Winnie, 65, his wife Deborah Honeyfield, 51, and her father Ian Honeyfield, 86, were found on Monday morning by a visitor after an apparent murder-suicide.

The three people lived at the Lees Road house.

"Post mortem examinations have concluded and families have been advised that all three died from gunshot wounds," a police spokeswoman said.

"The scene examination is expected to be completed today and a full report will be provided to the coroner in due course."

It was up to the coroner to determine what exactly happened in the house, she said.

The deaths follow last month's unsolved murder of Feilding farmer Scott Guy, 31, and the deaths of pilot Jessica Neeson, 27, and her student Patricia Smallman, 64, in an air collision near Feilding Aerodrome.

Feilding-raised soldier Tim O'Donnell, 28, was also killed in Afghanistan this month.

A large turnout, including the families of those killed, is expected for a candlelit service being held in the town this evening, in response to the tragic deaths.

Mayor Ian McKelvie said tonight's ceremony was a chance for people to talk about the recent events, and "hopefully make our community feel better about itself".

All those families affected by the spate of deaths had been invited, and he expected many to turn up.

"We were doing pretty well until this last event, and I guess you get overwhelmed," he told Radio New Zealand.

"We've had four of them (deaths) in about six weeks, so you get over one and the next one hits you. It affects everyone in our community because we're such a small community and everyone knows someone who knows someone.

"I'm struggling a little bit with some of the stuff behind the reasons for these things happening, but on the whole in good spirits."

It was only the first in a planned series of events to boost the town's morale, he said.

"Feilding community is a hugely proud community and has worked very hard in the last 15 odd years to get itself where it's got to and we need some good news."

There would be speeches, singing performances by local school children and a tribute flyby by Flight Training Manawatu.

- NZPA