Wairarapa authorities and community groups are in crisis mode after four teenagers died in a suspected mass-suicide pact.
Three teenagers from Masterton and one from Pahiatua have died suddenly since June, the last reported was a 17-year-old Masterton girl on Thursday.
One was a pupil at Chanel College in Masterton, another an ex-pupil of Makoura College in Masterton.
Makoura College will hold a meeting tonight to identify danger signs, and to offer help on how to support children as rumours of more deaths continue to ripple through the community.
The community is now monitoring social media messages which talk of a pact among some teenagers to end their lives.
Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr said he was aware of a suicide pact and police were ready to take urgent action at the prospect of someone about to commit suicide.
"We are discouraging young people from jumping on the bandwagon so to speak. The texting and the Facebooking is fuelling the frenzy particularly with people saying things that they have no intention of doing,'' he told the Dominion Post.
Police and the district health board have gathered together a support group for anyone thought to be at risk, including Child, Youth and Family, school counsellors, Youth Connect, Victim Support and Special Education.
Wairarapa DHB suicide prevention co-ordinator Barry Taylor said the community had been severely impacted by the four deaths, and many young people were upset.
"Many rumours are going around and there has been some kind of a glorification of the deaths by some people.''
Anxiety in the community was building, he said.
Local iwi Rangitane chief Jason Kerehi said urgent action needed to be taken, as there were continuing threats of more deaths to come. The iwi is in talks this week with parents to set up help lines, as many want a dedicated 24-hour local 0800 line.
More than 70 people - many of them from affected families - turned out to a hui organised by the iwi on Thursday which discussed a lack of support for teenagers dealing with the deaths and rumours.
A number of ad campaigns have also been set up in response to the crisis.
Makoura College pupils have set up Shout, a campaign using wristbands, presentations and T-shirts to spread positive messages.
