Auckland councillors are lamenting after several tragic deaths this week.
A 33-year-old man has been charged with murder after a man died on a residential street in Glen Innes on Thursday afternoon.
Three family members were also found dead at a Papatoetoe home on Thursday evening.
Manukau Ward Councillor Lotu Fuli said one of the victims, a man found on the front porch of the home, had young children.
“It’s a man who is well-known in the community and helps out in the community.
“What I’ve heard from our community and people who live nearby is that it has come as a complete surprise to their neighbours and everybody who knew the family. The family is a quiet family. Everyone is quite shocked because of that.”
RNZ / Felix Walton
Fuli believed the victims’ extended family were being supported.
She said there was no threat to the wider community and people should still feel safe.
“I know there’s a bit of uncertainty out there, but as far as we’re aware, there’s no ongoing threat and no wider issue for our Papatoetoe community and neighbourhood.
“Hopefully people are feeling okay, and for those neighbours who did see what happened and are experiencing grief and loss, I hope they are able to get some help, some counselling, to help them through it as well. I know it will be a very difficult time for everybody involved.”
RNZ / Felix Walton
Fellow Manukau Councillor Alf Filipaina said he planned to pay his respects when possible.
“I’ve heard that they [the victims] are community people and well liked in the community.”
The former police officer said his thoughts were with the families, first responders, and communities affected by both tragedies this week.
“I know what impact it has when you see something of that nature. Please seek professional advice to get you through. I’ve found that if you take that offer and take it early, it helps you process what you’ve seen.
“My plea to the community is to stay strong and stand together.”
‘Huge effects’ on the workforce
Police Association President Steve Watt said police around the country dealt with four suspected homicides in one week – with investigations also underway in
He said that would put the workforce under pressure.
“Homicides are extremely intensive and resource driven operations and there’s no doubt that having multiple homicides at the same time will draw on a number of police investigations in order to deal with it.”
Watt said the investigations had “huge effects” on the workforce, who were driven to get a result and deliver justice for family members and friends.
“What we need to remember is that these investigations are extremely complex – they can last from weeks to months to years by the time you initiate the investigation, right through to the court result at the very end. So we’re talking big teams at the start, getting stuck in getting the grass-roots inquiries done, at which point those teams will reduce in number, however there’s always a small group of members which will see the prosecution of the file right through to the end.”