Childcare centre reopens after toddler's tragic death

The childcare centre where a 4-year-old boy died in a tragic playground accident reopened yesterday and has sent its love to the young victim's family.

Aldrich Viju died just 45 minutes after being dropped off to Angels Childcare Centre at Takapuna on Friday afternoon.

Aldrich was farewelled at an emotional service at the Ellerslie Catholic Church on Monday.

Angels has not spoken about the boy's death, but late last week posted on its website that its "prayers, thoughts and love go out to his family, friends, our team members and the broader Angels community".

"We will be doing everything we can to support them through this difficult time."

The centre closed on Monday out of respect for the Viju family but reopened yesterday.

"We are working closely with the authorities to support them in their investigation of the accident. We will also be making contact over the weekend with all of the families of our children here at Angels to provide them with further information."

Aldrich's father, Viju Vareed, is struggling to come to terms with his son's death and was sobbing inconsolably at the start of Monday's service before being escorted out for a period of time.

Family spokesman Joseph Devasia said Vareed had spoken in Malayalam, saying he did not want anyone to see his son like this.

"I want to see only his smiling face," he translated.

Vareed "hasn't accepted it at all, he is in denial", Devasia said of the man's grief.

The boy's family were due to fly home to India yesterday, where they will stay for a few months. They are originally from the town of Kochi, in Kerala, India.