Fence damage found after toddler drowns

Noah Pitterd, 3, died in the family pool on Friday. Photo / Supplied

A three-year-old boy has drowned in a swimming pool at his Northland farm home.

The swimming pool was fenced and met safety regulations, but part of the fence was damaged.

Emergency services were called about 4.30pm on Friday to the house on Waiare Rd, near Puketi Forest, about 15km northwest of Kerikeri, where Grant and Danielle Petterd's son Noah died.

A family statement said: "Noah was a fun-loving little man who left his unique impression on whoever he came in contact with.

"Noah's family is mindful of water safety and encourages all communities to be vigilant around water. We would like to express our gratitude to the emergency services who attended to Noah on Friday and the ongoing support from family, friends and the Kerikeri community."

Noah's grandfather Keith Brady said the family was still raw and going through hell.

The couple also have a new baby and had moved to the house about 18 months ago.

Kerikeri police Sergeant Tony Dunckley said the pool had the correct fencing around it.

"The house is a modern house and had an adjoining swimming pool attached to the house," Dunckley said.

"The pool was set into the ground and had wooden decking around it. It was a mixture of aluminium rails and solid wooden fencing with the correct safety gates, in accordance to council regulations," he said.

However, police found part of the fence had been damaged.

He refused to comment on the damage or how or when it was caused. Noah was being looked after by his mother when he disappeared. He was found in the pool after a brief search.

His parents and ambulance staff began CPR but he could not be revived, Dunckley said.

"His mother hadn't seen him for 15 minutes and went looking for him. The boy would not have been able to get through the child proof gates."

The death has been referred to the coroner.

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge said Noah was the first preschooler to drown this year.

Last year, 13 preschoolers drowned, the highest number in eight years.