The Korean community in Christchurch says it is shocked by the deaths of three members of a family, in their home.
The bodies, understood to be that of a woman in her 40s and two teenage girls, were discovered in the house on Apsley Drive in the suburb of Avonhead at 10.30am on Wednesday.
Police do not believe there has been foul play and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Christchurch Korean Society president Kevin Park says the 5000 Koreans in the city are a close-knit community, but the people who have died had kept to themselves.
Mr Park says the woman's husband is travelling from Korea and is expected to arrive in Christchurch on Friday.
