A DAD of three girls allegedly murdered by their mum has said he has already forgiven his wife who he described as a "victim of tragedy".

       Orthopaedic surgeon Graham Dickason urged others to forgive and pray for his wife Lauren at a vigil in New Zealand on Thursday night.

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       Graham with his three daughters Credit: Facebook 5

       The surgeon said that he had forgiven his wife and urged others to do the same Credit: Facebook

       "Pray for strength and for healing, please also pray for my lovely Lauren, as I honestly believe that she is a victim of this tragedy as well," Graham said about his wife of 15 years in a letter read out by Reverend Alan Cummins.

       "People who know her well will testify to that, I have no doubt.

       "I have already forgiven her and I urge you, at your own time, to do the same."

       Graham discovered his twin daughters Maya and Karla, 2, and Liana, 6, dead in their home in Timaru last week.

       Cops were then called to the grisly scene at about 10pm on Thursday, and Lauren, 40, was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

       The mum of three has since been charged with the deaths of her three young girls.

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       In court on Saturday morning, Lauren was led from the cells wearing a light grey hoodie and black trousers as she made a brief appearance to hear the charges made against her.

       She look distressed and drawn as she entered no plea and was immediately remanded to a secure mental health unit, where she'll stay until her next court appearance on October 5, according to reports from NZ Herald.

       The Dickason family moved to New Zealand from South Africa days earlier to start a new life.

       Graham and Lauren are said to have been planning the move to Timaru for some time.

       A picture posted online on August 30 shows the smiling girls clutching toy kiwis after they landed in the country.

       But on Thursday neighbours said they heard a bang and then the sounds of sobbing and moaning at about 9.40pm.

       Jade Whaley said: "The first noise we heard was somebody sobbing, and then we heard a loud thud like someone just slammed a door.

       "We could see someone through our fence wandering behind the house and wailing."

       'STATE OF SHOCK'

       When husband Graham got home he reportedly found his twins tots and little Liane dead as he cried out: "Is this really happening?".

       Lauren's parents Wendy and Malcolm Fawkes told NZ news site Stuff they were "devastated" to hear of the tragedy.

       It comes after the mum shared a tribute to her family on Facebook for her and Graham's wedding anniversary.

       In a May 1 post congratulating her husband on their 15th wedding anniversary, Lauren wrote: "What an adventure. We have truly created a beautiful family and had many good times together.

       "May the next years be more blessed, more happy and may the kids let us sleep."

       The children's grandparents in South Africa said the whole extended family was "in a state of shock" since hearing the devastating news, according to stuff.co.uk.

       "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," they said.

       Natasja le Roux, a former colleague and neighbour told the Sunday Times in South Africa: "I cannot comprehend what happened - she is a medical doctor and she wasn't arrogant or anything like that. She was very humble.

       "She was really just a nice person, she and her husband."

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       Children hold a candlelight vigil outside the home in Timaru Credit: AP 5

       A woman leaves flowers down for the three girls who were found dead last week Credit: AP 5

       Forensic investigators at the scene in Timaru, New Zealand Credit: Stuff Limited