Man charged with assault in Rotorua triple homicide granted bail

A man charged with assault in connection to a triple homicide investigation has been granted electronic bail. He appeared in the Rotorua District Court via audiovisual link and is required to live at a property outside Rotorua while wearing an ankle bracelet. The man, who is in his early 20s, has interim name suppression.

The charges relate to an incident on the evening of 7 September at a High St property in the Glenholme suburb of Rotorua. Emergency services arrived shortly before 10.30pm and found two young children dead and a woman fatally injured. One child was aged 3 years and the other was 11 months old.

The man was charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship the day after the deaths. Crown Solicitor Amanda Gordon stated there were no grounds for police to oppose bail. The man is scheduled to reappear in court on 21 January, when his name suppression is due to lapse.

The man's lawyer, Gerard Walsh, requested that Judge John Bergseng grant electronically monitored bail. Under the bail conditions, the man is permitted to leave his residence to exercise on Mondays and Thursdays between 10am and midday. Police have stated they are not seeking anyone else in connection to the case.

Where reports differ

• One report specifies the next court appearance date as 21 January 2027, while others only state January.

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, Waikato Times, Stuff and 1News.