August, Hugo, and Goldie died in a house fire in Sanson on Saturday.

The children have been named in the Givealittle campaign for their mother as August, Hugo and Goldie. Photo: GIVEALITTLE / SUPPLIED

Police are continuing to comb through the scene of a house fire in Manawatū on Saturday, where three children and their father died.

The deaths at Sanson are being treated as a murder-suicide, RNZ understands, although police are yet to confirm that.

Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said the father was not burned – but his three children, aged 1, 5 and 7, were.

It is understood the father was Dean Field, and the children have been named in the Givealittle campaign for their mother as August, Hugo and Goldie.

The bodies of two children were recovered on Sunday night and were blessed by the family with karakia. The body of the father was removed earlier.

The third child’s body was recovered on Monday morning, Grantham said, by investigators supported by a forensic pathologist.

The children’s family were present as the child was taken from the scene, he said.

Grantham said the next few days will be a “hard grind” for police examining the site, and talking to witnesses and whānau.
Police remain at the scene of the fatal Sanson house fire on Tuesday.

Flowers left at the Sanson address on Tuesday. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham / RNZ

He said police will stay at the house as long as it takes to determine what happened.

Police remained at the scene of the fire on Tuesday.

A reporter saw three marked police cars and four unmarked outside what was left of the property.

Police in white protective clothing could be seen inside, while a scene guard remained out front.

A Fire and Emergency NZ investigator arrived just after 11am.
The scene of a fatal house fire in Sanson where 4 people died on Saturday 15 November. 16 November 2025.

Police would remain at the property for “as long as it takes”, Grantham said. Photo: RNZ/Mark Papalii

Meanwhile, more than $270,000 has been raised for the mother of the children as she deals with the “unimaginable loss”.

“They were the light and love of her life, and her entire world has been shattered,” the Givealittle page said.

“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security, while navigating the deepest emotional pain.”

The creator of the Givealittle page posted a thank you to “what felt like the whole of Aotearoa” on Monday for the donations raised.

“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.”
Outside the scene of a fatal house fire in Sanson, November 2025.

The children’s family were present as the child was taken from the scene. Photo: RNZ/Mark Papalii

Speaking to media on Monday, Grantham said it was too early to tell if the fire was deliberately started.

“It’s pretty risky with the part of the structure still there and the the dust that’s generated from the fire, so it will take us some time just to go through and establish what’s happened.”

Grantham said police were not seeking information from the public at this stage, but if anyone knew anything, they could “reach out”.

He said it was “unusual” for a house fire to begin in the afternoon.

Police would remain at the property for “as long as it takes”, Grantham said.
Police remain at the scene of the fatal Sanson house fire on Tuesday.

A scene investigation continues on Tuesday. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham / RNZ

SOURCE: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/579183/the-hardest-journey-possible-250-000-raised-for-mother-of-children-killed-in-sanson-fire