Police investigators are beginning a "complex scene examination" following a fatal house fire in the Manawatū town of Sanson.
Emergency services were called to the property, southwest of the town on State Highway 1, about 2.30pm yesterday.
"Several people are believed to have died at the property and police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the fire," Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said.
A scene guard remained in place overnight and investigators returned to the scene this morning.
Grantham said police were not yet able to confirm the number of fatalities as the scene examination continued.
"The investigation team will be working their way through the property today, supported by a forensic pathologist.
"This won’t be a fast-moving operation; it will be methodical and take time to work through what is a pretty complex and hazardous scene."
Grantham said there had been some concerns about the stability of the remaining structure and needed to ensure emergency service workers were safe to continue investigations.
He said police were also providing wrap-around support to the family and neighbours.
"I want to acknowledge the support we’ve had from the Sanson township and wider Manawatū community. Events like this hit at the hearts of our communities and we are doing everything we can to answer the many questions around this devastating incident."
Manawatū District Mayor Michael Ford told 1News it was a "devastating event" for the town, saying his heart went out to those involved.
He said he understood there to be four fatalities, including children.
Ford said Sanson was a "tight-knit community" filled with "a lot of caring people [and] good support".
He said this was a terrible thing for everyone to go through.
Neighbour describes 'quite upsetting' scene
Neighbour Alan Parker, who lives approximately 300m from the property, told 1News some people he was working with "noticed some smoke coming from next door" yesterday.
"We all came outside to see what was happening and there was smoke billowing from behind the trees, which we quickly ascertained was our neighbour’s property.
"Within a few minutes of us seeing that, the fire brigade turned up. Several tenders turned up over the following two hours basically, trying to extinguish it.”
He said they could tell it was a "ferocious fire" as it was still burning an hour after they first noticed the smoke.
"We could tell from back here that it was going to be a catastrophic loss of the house, which is quite upsetting. Very upsetting. Feeling for the young family that we knew lived there."
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