As Community Gathers in Shared Grief, Chelsey Field’s Words Echo Through a Town Forever Changed by the November 8 House Fire
SANSON, NEW ZEALAND – November 30, 2025 – “The children did not deserve this tragedy. I will fight with every breath to get justice for my little babies,” Chelsey Field declared through tears at the funeral of her three children—Mia (8), Harper (5), and Finn (3)—in the devastating Sanson house fire on November 8. As the entire community gathered in shared grief at Sanson War Memorial Hall, the mother’s raw vow pierced the silence of a town forever scarred by the unimaginable loss. Hundreds stood shoulder-to-shoulder under a grey sky, many clutching white balloons and paper lanterns, as the family laid to rest three innocent lives taken in a blaze that has left Sanson reeling and demanding answers.
The service, held Saturday, was a poignant blend of remembrance and resolve. Chelsey, 35 and visibly pregnant with her fourth child, spoke from the heart, her voice breaking as she described Mia’s love of piano, Harper’s crayon masterpieces, and Finn’s infectious giggle. “They were my light,” she said, clutching a photo of the siblings. “I will fight with every breath to get justice for my little babies.” The crowd—over 1,200 strong, including neighbors, teachers, and strangers from across Manawatū—released hundreds of lanterns at dusk, fulfilling Chelsey’s earlier wish to “turn tragedy into light.” The glowing orbs drifted over the Rangitikei River, a silent tribute to three small souls.
The fire, which started in the garage of the family’s Taonui Road home around 2 a.m., was ruled deliberate by police, with Mark Field, 38, the children’s father, confirmed as the sole suspect in a murder-suicide investigation. Mark, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had been battling severe depression and financial ruin after losing his job. Autopsies confirmed the children died from smoke inhalation and burns, unable to escape the upstairs bedrooms as flames engulfed the house. Chelsey, away at a teaching conference in Wellington, received the news in a call that shattered her world.
The community has rallied with extraordinary generosity. The Field Family Light Fund has raised NZ$280,000 for child fire safety education and mental health crisis support, with donations from as far as Australia and the UK. A memorial garden will replace the burned home, featuring a sculpture of three children releasing lanterns. “Sanson will never be the same,” Mayor Annette Money said at the service. “But we’ll honor Mia, Harper, and Finn by making sure no family suffers like this again.”
Chelsey’s vow for justice centers on systemic failures: Mark had sought counseling but faced a six-month waitlist. “If help had come sooner, my babies might still be here,” she said. The tragedy has sparked a national review of rural mental health services, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon pledging “urgent reform” in Parliament this week.
As the lanterns faded into the night sky, Sanson’s grief transformed into resolve. Chelsey’s words linger: “They did not deserve this.” In a town bound by loss, the fight for her little babies has just begun—one light at a time.
