Police in New Zealand is investigating the murder of three young South African children who were found dead at a home in Timaru in the Canterbury region.

Graham Dickason, a doctor from Pretoria found the bodies of his twin daughters Maya and Karla Dickason, 3 years old, and their older sister Liane, 7 on Friday.

Graham and his wife Laura – who is also a doctor – along with their three children moved to New Zealand last month and had been in Timaru for just a week after coming out of New Zealand’s very strict managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ).

According to various local news outlets in New Zealand Dickason arrived home and found his daughters dead. His wife was also in the home and taken to Timaru Hospital.  She is believed to be in a stable condition.

According to the police no one else was being investigated in relation to the deaths of the three children. News website, stuff.co.nz reported that emergency services arrived at the Queen Street home in the suburb of Parkside shortly after 22:00 local time but the girls could unfortunately not be saved

Dickason reportedly called for help, and neighbours overheard him screaming and yelling, saying: “Is this really happening?” According to Stuff, detectives have since opened a homicide inquiry and the suspected killer was in hospital in a stable condition.

Speaking to Stuff on Friday, Lauren Dickason’s parents Wendy and Malcolm Fawkes said they were “devastated” to hear of the tragedy.

“The extended families are in a state of shock as we try to understand what happened. We ask for your prayers and support during this very difficult time.

“We would also request privacy as we battle to come to terms with what has happened.