Child assaulted in Hastings home dies

The police cordon in place after the assault of a 2-year-old in Flaxmere.

A 2-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted in his Hastings home earlier this week has died.

The boy died on Wednesday night in the intensive care unit at Hawke's Bay Hospital, police said.

Police were called to a Columbus Cres home in Flaxmere about midday on Monday after the boy was taken to hospital by ambulance.

He had received critical head injuries and was in the hospital's intensive care unit until he died.

Police believed the boy's injuries were non-accidental.

Officers taped off the property on Monday and Tuesday while they conducted a scene investigation.

A 17-year-old Rotorua youth has been charged with assaulting a child and appeared in the Hasting District Court on Tuesday.

He was granted interim name suppression and remanded on bail to reappear on November 3.

Police said they were unable to make further comment as the case was now before the courts.