Log pile where Motueka boy died not fenced off

The pile of logs where the 5-year-old died were from trees cut down on the grounds of Motueka High School. File photo / Thinkstock

There was no fencing around a stack of logs in the grounds of a Motueka school where a 5-year-old was killed last night, police said.

The boy was playing near a stack of newly-cut logs on Motueka High's rugby field when the incident happened about 5.45pm.

A group of children were playing on top of the pile, stacked three to four logs high, when one became dislodged, said Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Crawford.

"They were playing on top of the logs and jumping up and down on them and we think their actions have caused the log to become loose and roll off the stack,'' Mr Crawford told Radio New Zealand.

The logs were cut on Wednesday night from some dangerous dead trees on the grounds and had been stacked for removal today.

The pile had not been fenced off.

"There is no boundary to the logs, they were in a school field and OSH are investigating that side of it,'' Mr Crawford said.

Police and grieving family members were with the boy's body last night.

"It's traumatic for everybody involved - the family, the school and the contractors that dealt with that.''

The family was being supported by victim support, local marae and iwi, he said.

Police and The Department of Labour are investigating.