UPDATED 2.06PM: Edward Livingstone's former wife has painted a picture to the Coroners Court of a manipulative and volatile man.

Her testimony comes at an inquest in Dunedin into the deaths Bradley and Ellen Livingstone - killed by their father Edward Livingstone, who was found dead with them.

Katharine Webb told the court that while there were two official protection order breaches, she can recall numerous other times where he contacted her.

But, she was scared she would be wasting the police time if she complained every time he contacted her.

Ms Webb also talked about a conversation she had with Livingstone, when he revealed he set a former fiancee’s home on fire in Australia, when he found her in bed with a friend of his.

She was then quizzed about a chat she had with police over a breach, where she felt like Edward was sending her a message by giving the kids gun shell cases.

Neighbour Melanie Foot recalled a conversation she had with Livingstone not long after he was removed from the family home.

"He wanted to tell me about thoughts he'd been having about killing his children and his wife next door, and himself."

When asked whether Livingstone explained how he would do it, Foot replied "With great detail, yes."

Foot told the court Livingstone said the family would be in their beds when he would do it, and then he would then light the house on fire.

Christopher Foot, who was living next door, remembers a text he received in the hours leading up to the shooting.

One of those texts said 'look after yourself, karma will get cat."

Christopher Foot says that he didn't know what that meant, and said later that evening he confronted Edward Livingstone as he was on his rampage, when Katharine Webb fled to his property.