Rotorua triple homicide: Police stand guard at scene overnight

Police have been standing guard overnight at the scene of a triple homicide in Rotorua. Emergency services arrived at the home on High Street in Glenholme shortly before 10.30pm on Monday, where they found the bodies of two young children along with a critically injured woman who died at the scene. Police began a homicide investigation and a man aged in his early 20s appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Tuesday, charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship. The man and the victims were granted interim name suppression and he was remanded in custody until next month. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said she was heartbroken to hear of the deaths, which had been tragic for the community. "As the investigation continues, our thoughts are with the victims and of course their loved ones," she said. "I really want to acknowledge the emergency services and frontline staff who have had to respond to this horrific tragedy." Tapsell said the Glenholme area was home to many elderly people who had lived there for a long time. A 79-year-old man who had lived on the street his whole life said he was in shock since learning what had happened. The people living in the house seemed to have recently moved in, he said, and he had seen new children around the street.