'Too early to say' how trio died

Police found no weapons at the home. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

The deaths of a woman and her two children in their Hawkes Bay home are not suspicious, police say.

Melissa Dorward, 31, and her daughters Keira Watson, 4, and Ellah Watson, 2, were found in their home in Haumoana, 10km northeast of Hastings, on Saturday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave De Lange said it was too early to say how the family died, but there were no suspicious circumstances.

No weapons were found at the property and none of the bodies had any obvious injuries. The bodies were found by a family member who was visiting shortly before 10am.

"Investigations are nowhere near complete and there is still a lot of work to be done to ascertain how they died and under what circumstances," Mr De Lange said.

"Until we can confirm those facts, we are not in a position to confirm any rumour, speculation or other people's versions of events."

He said that police were speakingto Ms Dorward's family and friends.

"Until we get a clearer picture of what took place and the circumstances surrounding the three deaths, it would be unwise to indulge in conjecture."

- NZPA