Hastings council pleads guilty over tractor death of four-year-old boy

Uetaha Dahtanian Ransfield-Wanoa was fatally injured by a tractor-mower driven by a council employee in September 2013. Photo / Supplied

Hastings District Council has admitted fault over a tractor-mower death of a four-year-old boy.

The council had initially pleaded not guilty to a charge laid by WorkSafe over the death of Uetaha Dahtanian Ransfield-Wanoa at Kirkpatrick Park on October 8, 2013.

The council said a not-guilty plea was entered initially "to ensure that all evidence in the case would be disclosed", but it had now decided to change its plea to guilty of breaching the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.

In a statement released today, the council said it had since reviewed its safe operating procedures for all mowing operators and improved the training and supervision of drivers.

Uetaha Dahtanian Ransfield-Wanoa was run over by a tractor-mower driven by council employee Ross David Pollock.

Pollock, 73, had pled guilty over the boy's death and was sentenced to six months' home detention, 100 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay $5000 reparation.

He later successfully appealed part of the sentence, meaning the three years' disqualification was quashed and a period of 18 months' imposed in lieu.

The council said it would not comment further until the court process has concluded.

After his death, Uetaha's family released a statement mourning their "beautiful wee boy".

"Uetaha had an amazing love of dinosaurs and regularly slept with a toy one under his pillow. He was a boy with a mischievous grin who was loved by everyone. He generally started his day with a Milo and, of course, the cheeky grin meant he got his way with almost everyone, especially his nan (My Love)."