The “violent” death of a 10-month-old baby boy in Te Kūiti has led to police opening a homicide investigation.
The baby was brought unconscious to hospital over the weekend.
Police said an initial examination at Te Kūiti Hospital showed the baby boy suffered violent, blunt-force trauma.
“We believe these injuries were not accidental,” Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley said.
“The full extent of his injuries will be determined by a post-mortem, but the result will not be known for some time.”
Police have been speaking to the baby’s parents and other family members.
“They are working with us as we establish what occurred in this young child’s life and how he came to be so badly injured,” Pitkethley said.
“Over the coming days, police will be conducting a scene examination at a Te Kūiti address, which has been under police guard since Saturday afternoon.
“Te Kūiti locals can expect to see police in the town making enquires and we ask for the public’s co-operation and understanding.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call 105.
