Vehicle tested after boy's death

Police have impounded a vehicle for forensic and electrical testing from a logging site in the Manuka Gorge area, after the death of a 7-year-old boy.

The boy has been named as Jonathan James Kerr, of Milton.

Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts said the fatality of Friday was not as the result of a logging accident.

The testing of the vehicle might take ''several days'', Det Sgt Roberts said on Saturday.

The family had requested privacy, he added.

The cause of death would not be released by police as the matter had become a coroner's inquiry.

Emergency services from the Balclutha, Milton and Dunedin areas were called to Nugget Stream Rd about 5.15pm on Friday to find the boy, who was not breathing.

A resident in the area said he had heard a person had died after part of their upper body had been caught in an electrically operated vehicle window.

An ambulance spokeswoman said attempts were made to revive the boy on arrival, but they were unsuccessful.

A combined investigation involving police and WorkSafe New Zealand has been launched.