The inquest into the death of two children killed by their father in Dunedin should serve as a warning, says a Papamoa family violence coordinator.

Edward Livingstone shot his two children, Bradley, 9, and Ellen, 6, in their beds on January 15, 2014, in the Kiwi Street home they shared with their mother.

TMAMPS family violence coordinator Heather Beddie says people need to be vigilant in the community and help protect other from family violence.

Livingstone then turned the gun on himself.

An inquest into the deaths has revealed how Livingstone deceived a psychiatrist who had no knowledge of his prior offending, which included arson.

'Throughout the inquest we were hearing the danger signs that Livingstone's wife and children were at serious risk of harm,” says TMAPS family violence coordinator Heather Beddie.

'There were clear signs that they were at serious risk of harm.”

Heather says some of the red flag/danger signs that came out of the inquest included: threatening to kill:

Livingstone told more than one person that he wanted to kill his family and he went as far as talking about what method he might use.

Intimidation: He asked his children to give bullet cases to their mother.

Stalking: After they separated he was seen following his wife.

'He had breached the protection order more than once,” says Heather. 'There had been previous violence in their relationship. Family members were very fearful.”

Heather is urges people who see any of these tactics or if they are worried about the safety of women and children to alert crisis services immediately.

'Our community must be proactive in keeping victims. As a community we must understand just how dangerous it can be for our women and children who are having violence done to them.

'We can save lives, by letting the authorities know. Last year the NZ Death review committee called for more education and awareness of the warning /danger signs as these signs show up consistently in reviews of family violence murders.”