Attribute to Detective Inspector Stu Harvey:

The young child injured in an incident in Otautau, Southland, on Sunday 20 September has now sadly died.

Emergency services were called to an address around 6:50pm on Sunday, and the child was transported to hospital in critical condition.

They were later flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland; however, they sadly died this afternoon.

Police are now treating this as a homicide investigation.

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Andrew Knox:

Police will have a visible presence around Hastings in coming days in relation to a gang tangi.

While the exact timeline is yet to be confirmed, there is expected to be an increased presence of gang members in the city and the wider Hawke’s Bay area, including members travelling into the region.

Police’s role is to ensure the safety of all while allowing whānau and friends the space to grieve peacefully. Lawful expectations are being conveyed to local gang leaders.