Toddler dies in digger accident

Police are investigating a toddler's death after an accident on a farm south of Rotorua.

A 16-month-old boy died yesterday after an incident involving a digger at a farm near Reporoa, about 50km south of Rotorua.

Initial 111 reports suggested that the child had been run over or crushed by the digger on a Te Toke Rd property near the Ohaaki Geothermal Power Station about 11.40am.

However, police now believe the digger was not moving.

Police from Rotorua and Taupo are investigating the boy's death and a post mortem was to be carried out this morning.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper said police had spoken with the child's parents, whom were extremely upset.

The Department of Labour's Bay of Plenty service manager, Murray Thompson, said he was seeking more information to determine whether the department would be investigating the incident or whether it was a police matter.

However, so far he understood it was not a place of work and therefore a matter for police to investigate.

Inspector Gavin Macdonald, of police northern communications, said two 111 calls were received from the property.

One call said the boy had been run over by the digger and the other stated he had been crushed.

St John communications team manager Murray Bannister said the toddler had been taken to the local ambulance station by his parents.

"They bundled the child into a car," he said.

Mr Bannister said a 111 call St John had received was difficult to understand.

"The person, as you would expect, was panicking so we had trouble ascertaining where they were."

A crew of two volunteer officers met the boy and his parents at the ambulance station and transferred him to an ambulance.

An advanced life support unit was also sent from Rotorua.

It was unknown if the toddler survived long enough to be shifted to the life-support unit as it met the volunteer crew on the way to Rotorua, 40km away.

"I understand the child was in cardiac arrest and they were working on the child," Mr Bannister said.

Mr Loper said the child had been confirmed dead on arrival at Rotorua Hospital.

The boy's name will not be released until later today.

Several police cars from Rotorua and Taupo were at the property yesterday afternoon as well as extended family of the boy.

It was understood the deceased boy's immediate family were with him in Rotorua.

Two distressed women arrived at the home about 3.30pm but left a short time later.

As they drove out of the property they stopped and a tearful woman told media she had just found out what had happened and was too upset to comment. Additional reporting NZ HERALD