Friends of a Manawatū mother mourning the loss of her three children say it "feels like the whole of Aotearoa is with her" after a devastating house fire at the weekend.
The blaze broke out at a home in Sanson, northwest of Palmerston North, on Saturday at around 2.30pm.
Four people died in the fire — three children aged 7, 5, and 1, and their father.
They have been named by friends of their mother as August, Hugo, and Goldie.
Police said investigators were working to determine the circumstances of the deaths with a scene examination underway.
Manawatū area commander Inspector Ross Grantham said the man died at the scene but was not burned in the blaze which destroyed the property.
Investigators were working to determine why the fatal incident unfolded and why three innocent children had lost their lives, he said.
"I know the community have lots of questions about this case, as do we," he said.
"But at this stage, we’re still working to determine the intent and circumstances around the incident and have yet to rule it a homicide."
Police said the man was found in the dwelling and was not burned, but the three children were. (Source: 1News)
The bodies of two children were recovered on Sunday, with a third recovered on Monday. Family were present as they were taken from the scene.
The body of the father was removed earlier.
Meanwhile, a Givealittle page created to support the mother of the children has raised more than $250,000.
In a message on Monday, the page's creator thanked donors "for the outpour of such immediate generous financial support, the beautiful messages of love, thoughts and prayers, and the community spirit that you all have created for our friend".
"No amount of money will ever be enough to heal the wounds left in her heart and soul, but to have this safety net to rebuild her life, knowing what feels like the whole of Aotearoa is with her, and how you have all contributed to this outpouring of love in so many ways is more than we could’ve ever hoped for."
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