Residents in shock after man and woman found dead, child critically injured in Papatoetoe incident

Two people are dead and a child critically injured in a serious incident in South Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

Residents of a quiet Auckland street where a man and woman were found dead and a child was critically injured have expressed shock and disbelief at the tragic events that shattered a peaceful summer's day.

Across the road from the house on Papatoetoe's Sunnyside Cres, resident Raj Singh saw the many police cars on his street this morning, followed by an officer knocking at his door.

Two people are dead and a child critically injured in a serious incident in South Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

An inspector told him two people were deceased, and a child had been taken to Starship Hospital, he said.

He saw the boy taken away from the property, carried in a stretcher.

A resident who lives directly next door to the property said everything seemed normal until police arrived.

"We were all home having a quiet night," the resident next door said.

The victims had been home for Christmas and the high-energy little boy had played with his Christmas toys, she said.

"He got a new bike. He was a full-on little boy."

Today, she too had seen him taken away from the property.

He appeared to have suffered lacerations to his head, she said. "He looked lifeless."

Karam Chand lives a few doors down from where the police cordon was set up.

"I've lived here for a long time, over 10 years.

"Nothing has happened on this street like this."

Karam Chand lives a few doors down from where the police cordon was set up. Photo / Dean Purcell

Chand said residents had been left feeling sad and shaken.

One resident said: "It's a shock that it's so close to home."

Another said the usually quiet street was a safe one, where children liked to play on their bikes.

This afternoon the small children playing on equally small bikes micmicked the sound of sirens on an otherwise quiet street.

Police confirmed two bodies - that of a woman and a man - had been discovered today after officers arrived at the home at 9.50am.

Police at the scene in Papatoetoe. Photo / Visual Media Productions

"Police attended the address and located the body of a woman inside a bedroom," a police spokesman said.

"A child was also located in the room with critical injuries and he has been transported to Starship Hospital.

Two people are dead and a child critically injured in a serious incident in South Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

"A further search of the address revealed the body of a man who was located deceased inside the property's garage."

A St John spokeswoman confirmed they received a call from police at 10.08am.

Two intensive-care paramedics were among the St John team sent to the scene and one person was taken to Starship Children's Hospital in a critical condition, she said.

Two people are dead and a child critically injured in a serious incident in South Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

The circumstances of the deaths and exactly how the two people died and how the boy was injured are not known.

Police would only call the incident a "tragic event".

"Police are working to establish the circumstances and piece together what has occurred."

Officers will remain at the scene today as a scene examination is carried out and police continue to speak to "a number of individuals" in relation to the incident.

Detective Inspector Colin Higson said authorities are not looking for anyone at this stage and believe the man and woman are known to each other. Their relationship to the child has yet to be explained.

Police are now working to confirm identities and contact next of kin.