One-year-old dies in Christmas drowning tragedy

A 1-year-old girl has drowned in a pool in Manurewa today.

Emergency services were called to a house about 1pm where the temporary pool was set up.

The child's death has been referred to the coroner.

Several family members have started turning up at the house, with several gathered in the driveway, hugging and crying.

Police are at the scene with detectives conducting interviews with family members inside the house, and taking people to their cars to interview them separately.

A police photographer has also taken photos of the backyard.

Neighbours, who are holding their own Christmas gatherings, told the Herald that the first they knew of the tragedy was when they heard sirens and raised voices.

There are about four police cars - two marked and two un-marked.

Neems Place is a quiet, small, no-exit street.

A relative told the Herald that the pool was not a paddling pool.

Police said the death was a tragic reminder for parents and caregivers that young children should be directly supervised by an adult when they were around water.