Woman and children found dead

A triple homicide inquiry was launched last night after a woman and two children were found dead at a property in North Taranaki.

Police were called to the seaside settlement of Onaero about 7pm by a local resident.

There they discovered the bodies of the woman and two children, New Plymouth Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward said.

"The inquiry is being treated as a homicide," he said.

Details surrounding the deaths were sketchy.

Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough said it was believed the deaths occurred within the last 48 hours.

The bodies were found in an outbuilding at the property.

CIB detectives and general police staff from New Plymouth and Waitara were at the property.

They had cordoned off the Onaero Beach Rd house and begun questioning residents.

A detailed scene examination was expected to start this morning.

The tiny settlement of Onaero Beach has about 60 households and is about 10km from Waitara.

Mr Coward said police had not yet contacted next of kin. The yard of the house indicated signs of children.

A Tweety Bird picture was stuck to a window, a netball goal stood near the garage and a bright butterfly was attached to a house railing. Potplants hung in a small porch.

Curtains of the cream-coloured home were closed.

"It's very tragic," said a long-time resident of the settlement, who refused to be named.

The woman, who did not know the victims well, said a mother and two primary school-aged children lived in the house.

"We know her by sight, to wave at and talk to. She's lovely ... very friendly, fitting in." she said of the mother.

"And the kids were always out there and happy."

- NZPA