The mother of the three young children killed in a triple homicide says she has been touched by the kindness of strangers and the special memorial crafted in the wake of the tragedy. 

August, Hugo and Goldie aged 7, 5 and 1, were found dead after a fire at the family’s home in the small Manawatū town of Sanson on November 15. 

Popular local café owner Viv Withers, of Viv’s Kitchen, took to social media to share the business has built a memorial for the children, as well as their stillborn sister Iris, and the family dog, Marlo, which also died in the incident. 

A plaque mounted to a large stone featuring a photo of the slain children reading “sadly taken November 15, 2025″, was unveiled by their mother, Chelsey Field yesterday. 

Mother Chelsey Field unveiled a memorial plaque to her children killed in an alleged triple homicide in Sanson last year. Photo / Viv's Kitchen 

“It’s our way of showing that they’ll never be forgotten,” Withers told the Herald. 

She said she had earlier been working on a fairy garden outside her popular Dundas Rd business but decided after the tragedy to devote it to the three children. 

“The particular day that I went out to do some work on it, something just hit me and it was the little ones and I thought, I’m going to turn this into their garden,” she said. 

“They were just down the road from us, so I decided we’d turn this one into their little memorial garden.” 

Field, speaking publicly for the first time since her children’s funeral, said she is touched by the heart-warming memorial. 

“It means so much to me that Viv’s Kitchen has chosen to create this memorial for my children. The cafe was local to us and their kindness and generosity is so appreciated,” the mother said in a statement. 

“I am so thankful to those who have dropped off ornaments or painted rocks to add. It’s so nice to have somewhere that myself, friends, family and the community can go and visit.” 

Field said she has been touched by the kindness of “complete strangers” since the tragic incident, saying it does not go unnoticed. 

“I am also so appreciative of those who have offered me so much support over these last two months through the kind words, messages, cards, and those who have and continue to donate to the Givealittle or Operation Giveback.” 

Friends of Field set up a Givealittle donation page in the days following the fire to create a “safety net for her” and to “provide her with the space and security needed to grieve in solitude, without the added stress of financial ruin”. 

It has raised more than $420,000. 

Field said unveiling the plaque was “so heart-warming” and “felt very special”. 

She said she has future plans to create another memorial “to honour my children’s memory and give back to the community”. 

Mourners gathered as the caskets arrived to the November funeral for August, Hugo and Goldie, aged 7, 5 and 1. Photo / Richard Cooper 

The garden features a coloured picket fence around a tree stump, painted blue, green, and pink, the same colours of the children’s caskets. 

“We hope this little memorial will help Chelsey to know those little lives mattered and will always be remembered,” her post read. 

Withers said the whole Sanson community had felt the “absolutely tragic” incident, and everyone was impacted in their own way. 

Police issue update on investigation 

Police are now describing the incident as a “triple homicide and arson”, saying their initial inquiries have concluded. 

“This matter has now been formally handed to the coroner. Police will be continuing inquiries and addressing any matters raised by the coroner,” a police spokeswoman said. 

Their father, Dean Field, was also found dead at the scene. 

Police at the scene of house fire in Sanson the day after four people died at the property. Photo / Mark Papalii, RNZ 

All post-mortems have been completed and the children were farewelled at a large funeral in Palmerston North in late November. 

A private service had already been held for Dean Field at the “family’s request”. 

Where to get help: 

If you’re in danger now:

• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you.
• Run outside and head for where there are other people. Scream for help so your neighbours can hear you.
• Take the children with you. Don’t stop to get anything else.
• If you are being abused, remember it’s not your fault. Violence is never okay.

Where to go for help or more information:

• Women’s Refuge: Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
• Shine: Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
• It’s Not Ok: Family violence information line - 0800 456 450
• Shakti: Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children.
• Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7)
• Ministry of Justice: For information on family violence
• Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services
• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men’s violence towards women.

How to hide your visit:

If you are reading this information on the Herald website and you’re worried that someone using the same computer will find out what you’ve been looking at, you can follow the steps at the link here to hide your visit. Each of the websites above also has a section that outlines this process.