A baby boy was killed after he was run over in a paddock in front of where his family home was being built in Ngaruawahia.
Caleb Steel died at Waikato Hospital on Saturday night after he was hit by a vehicle earlier that evening, suffering critical injuries.
It is understood the 10-month-old lived with his parents, Philip and Pip Steel, and grandparents, Carolyn and Murray Steel, in a rented house which backed on to the section at the end of a private lane off Old Taupiri Rd, where their new home was in the early stages of being built.
Family spokesman Graeme Steel, Caleb's great-uncle, told the Herald last night the family were still coming to terms with the tragedy.
"The family are wanting their privacy. They are very distressed, as we are, as relations. It has been an extreme shock. All we are interested in doing as the family is supporting them through the trauma they are facing at the moment.
Mr Steel said the accident happened some distance and in a separate paddock from where the family home is being built.
"It was a tragic accident. Caleb was full of life, a great smiler, a real charmer, loved by everyone."
A St John spokesman confirmed two ambulance crew were called to the scene early on Saturday evening and rushed a "seriously injured infant" to Waikato Hospital.
The baby's grandmother, Carolyn, works as an executive assistant at Waikato Regional Council and staff were told in an email yesterday of the news.
The young boy's death has been referred to the coroner and Waikato police crash investigators were yesterday working to determine the circumstances around the accident.
Police declined to release any further details of the incident.
The funeral is to be held tomorrow at Life Church in Kent St, Frankton.
- Nikki Preston, NZ Herald
