Three children killed in horror crash named

Police have named the three young siblings killed in yesterday's crash in the Horowhenua district.

One-year-old Hikurangi Te Pounamu Raiwhara, and his older sisters Ashlie Waiata, 3, and Hannah May, 5, all of Palmerston North, died when the van their mother was driving overturned and crashed into a ditch about 3.30pm yesterday.

Their eight-year-old brother and mother, Kathy Raiwhara, are both in hospital, in serious condition.

The horror crash has shaken the community and members of emergency services dealing with the accident, Sergeant Graham Wehipeihana, of Palmerston North said.

Mrs Raiwhara and her husband Jack were well-known in Palmerston North, and a lot of people were suffering as a result of the tragedy.

The family was travelling on State Highway 56, towards Palmerston North when the accident happened.

The mother and son, and other family members had a "strong support network" gathering around them, Mr Wehipeihana said.

The officer in charge of the case, Greg Robinson, said the cause of the crash was still unclear.

"We haven't been able to ascertain a reason as to why [the van] came off the road."

Mr Robinson said it was expected that the chidren's mother would be able to provide more information when she was able to talk to police.

The van was followed by a car carrying close friends of the family.

Senior Constable Les Maddaford of the Serious Crash Unit said police were speaking to witnesses from the car, but that it could take up to three weeks to establish what happened.

"We've been back and done a scene survey, and now we're starting to get down to the basic nitty-gritty, pulling things apart and putting them back together again."

- NZHERALD STAFF / NZPA