Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Death of Toddler in Northland
A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the tragic death of a toddler in Whangārei, New Zealand. The man, identified as Puriri, appeared in the High Court at Whangārei last month and was remanded on bail, with sentencing scheduled for October.
The Day of the Tragedy
According to a summary of facts presented to the court, the incident occurred on a day when Reign, the toddler, was in Puriri’s care while his father attended to errands. Around 1:30 pm, Puriri drove a utility vehicle – a ute – from his home on Church Rd in Ngaratanua to a neighboring property.
Puriri’s 4-year-old daughter accompanied him, and both children were unrestrained within the vehicle. Critically, the ute’s warrant of fitness and vehicle registration had both expired in 2023. The journey involved traversing 160 meters of road and then 370 meters of an unsealed driveway to reach the neighbor’s property, where the group spent an unspecified amount of time.
Unsafe Conditions and Fatal Fall
Upon leaving the neighbor’s property, both children entered the ute through the driver’s side door. Reign was seated in the passenger seat, while Puriri’s daughter was in the rear – neither child was secured by a safety restraint. As Puriri drove away, both children reportedly stood up within the vehicle.
The ute was approximately 38 meters down the driveway, navigating a moderate curve, when Reign leaned out the window, lost his balance, and fell to the ground. Puriri immediately stopped the vehicle and found Reign unresponsive. He then transported the toddler at speed to the Hato Hone St John’s ambulance hub in Kensington, Whangārei, where Reign was subsequently taken to the hospital. Despite medical intervention, Reign was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, succumbing to injuries sustained from the fall.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Charges
When questioned by police, Puriri stated he was traveling at approximately 10 km/h. “I didn’t think I was going very fast,” he reportedly told officers, adding that he could not recall whether the manual vehicle was in first or second gear.
Puriri was formally charged with his nephew’s manslaughter in late March, specifically relating to a neglect of his legal duty to ensure Reign’s safety and protect him from harm. The case highlights the critical importance of adhering to vehicle safety standards and ensuring children are properly restrained while traveling.
Shannon Pitman, a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice, contributed to this report, drawing on her coverage of courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has five years of experience in digital media, joining NZME in 2023.
