Three people have been found dead at a South Auckland home, prompting a major police investigation into what authorities have described as a “tragic event”.
Police were called to Cambridge Terrace in Papatoetoe at about 6.40pm on Thursday after receiving a report that a person had been found dead at the property.
When officers arrived, they found the person as well as two others inside the home who were also pronounced dead.
Detective Inspector Karen Bright of Counties Manukau CIB said the investigation remained in its early stages, but police were not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Police also said they did not believe there was any risk to the wider public.
A scene examination was under way as investigators attempted to establish what happened inside the property.
“We are doing everything we can to answer the many questions around this devastating incident,” Bright said.
Police said support was being provided to the whānau and neighbours of those who died.
Residents should expect an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continues.
Neighbours shocked by deaths
Neighbours have described their shock after emergency services descended on Cambridge Terrace on Thursday evening.
One neighbour told the New Zealand Herald he saw a man’s body at the entrance to the property after his daughter noticed police vehicles passing their home.
Another neighbour said they broke down after learning three people had died, describing those at the property as “a good family”.
St John responded to the incident with an ambulance, critical care unit and operations manager, while Fire and Emergency New Zealand sent three crews from Papatoetoe and Ōtara.
Police initially described the callout on Thursday night as a “serious incident” and established cordons around the Cambridge Terrace property as emergency services worked at the scene.
The cordons were expected to remain while the scene examination continued.
The identities of the three people and the circumstances surrounding their deaths have not yet been released.
Police have also not publicly confirmed whether the three were related.
The investigation is continuing.
