Police have a visible presence in the Highbury suburb of Palmerston North, as officers respond to a serious incident.

Police were called to the address on Pioneer Highway about 3.15pm.

Cordons are in place around Pioneer Highway, between Cardiff Street and Botanical Road. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.

Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Attributable to Investigations Manager Tauranga, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam:

Bay of Plenty Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two people at an address on Old Coach Road in Pukehina.

Police are able to confirm that the death of the woman is being treated as suspicious, and the death of the man as unexplained.

A 50-year-old man is due to reappear in Tauranga District Court on 30 January on a charge of assaulting a person in a family relationship.