3 dead as New Zealand police launch homicide investigation in Rotorua

WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three people have died in a case New Zealand police are treating as homicide at a house in Rotorua on the North Island overnight, authorities said Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to an address on High Street shortly before 10:30 p.m. local time, where a woman was found with life-threatening injuries and two young children were found deceased. Despite extensive efforts by police and ambulance crews, the woman died at the scene, police said in a statement.

The deaths of all three victims are being treated as homicides, and the circumstances remain under investigation, the statement said.

A man was also found at the address and is assisting police with their inquiries. Police said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

A forensic examination of the scene will begin and may continue for several days, while investigators work to establish what happened and why, according to police.