It could be weeks before police know what killed a Hawke's Bay mother and her two pre-schoolers at the weekend.
The bodies of Melissa Dorward, Keira Watson, four, and Ellah Watson, two, were found by a family member at their home in Rockwood Place, Haumoana, about 10am on Sunday.
Police quickly said there were no suspicious circumstances and they were not looking for anyone else. No weapons were found at the property and none of the bodies had any obvious injuries.
Hawke's Bay Today reported that Ms Dorward was pregnant and her partner and two older sons were away from the house at the time.
Post mortem results were expected back today but police said the examinations were still being completed in Wellington. Part of the process included running toxicology tests and forensic examination of some samples. It could now be "some weeks" before a preliminary cause of death was established for the trio, said Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange, of Hastings CIB.
"We have been working closely with the coroner and pathologist."
Mr de Lange said he was aware of rumour and speculation in the community about what had happened but this was "not helpful or fair" on the family of the victims. He reiterated that based on the information gathered so far, police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
"This is a case that is likely to be referred directly to the coroner once the police investigation is complete."
