West Auckland man charged with assaulting 11-month-old baby remanded in custody

The baby was taken to Auckland City Hospital with critical injuries. Photo / NZME

A man charged with assaulting a baby has been remanded in custody after he appeared in the Waitākere District Court today.

The 35-year-old was charged with assaulting an 11-month-old child when he appeared via video link in front of a Community Magistrate.

On Sunday the baby boy was in hospital fighting for his life after police found him with critical injuries in the west Auckland suburb of Swanson at 8am.

It's understood the baby was not the man's biological child but that he referred to the boy as his son.

The court heard police were awaiting more information from medical staff at Auckland Hospital on the baby's condition.

The accused, whose occupation was listed in court documents as a prostitute, is not to have any contact with the mother of the baby and is set to reappear in court on September 15.

Both police and St John were called to the property in Swanson around 7.54am on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for St John said staff assessed, treated, and transported one patient with "critical injuries" to Auckland City Hospital.

On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed that an investigation was underway after "a person was located with serious injuries" at the Swanson address.

"Police are working to establish the circumstances that led to the injuries and at this stage there is no further information available."

Two armed officers, a dog handler, a forensic photographer along with detectives remained at the scene for a full scene examination to be carried out.