Emergency services responding to a vehicle crash on the West Coast were shocked to find the driver was 7 years old.
The child had lost control of the van on a gravel road in northern Buller, narrowly missing a tree.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood, of Greymouth, said the 7-year-old and their 9-year-old passenger had apparently taken the van, which belonged to a family member, from the address they were staying at in a rural settlement north of Westport.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand and police were called to the crash shortly before 1.30pm on Tuesday.
The Waimangaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade stood by for about an hour and St John attended, but there were no injuries.
However, questions were being asked given the extraordinary circumstances of such a young person being at the wheel, Snr Sgt Kirkwood said.
He said this was being taken up with the caregiver and dealt with at a family level.
He said the children were in the care of a grandparent at the time.
Senior Constable Reuben McCormack, of Westport, said the van had been travelling along the gravel road before the young driver lost control, veered off the edge and ‘‘very luckily missed a tree’’.
The van came to rest in some bushes.
— Greymouth Star
