Toddler dies after being run over by driveway roller

A roller leaves the property after the incident today. Photo / Doug Sherring

A two-year-old boy is dead after being run over by a 1.5-tonne roller yesterday at his home.

Marley Shearer was struck by the reversing roller on the driveway of his family's Elmore Rd home, Paremoremo, at about 1.45pm.

Emergency services rushed the boy to Starship children's hospital in a critical condition but he died soon after.

A serious crash unit investigation is under way and police say they are looking into how the tragedy occurred.

Constable Paul Hayward said the driver was related to the child and was "absolutely distraught".

"He and his family are being supported by Victim Support."

It was not yet known whether the driver will be charged.

Neighbours said the man was working on a shingle driveway at his residential property.

A nearby neighbour, who used to own the property, said the man was working on the driveway so he could move a smaller house on to the site.

"It was a pretty bad driveway and from what I've heard he's been trying to sort it out so he can haul the house on."

The neighbour said he was aware the family planned to move to Greece shortly.

"They were going to rent the place out."

Marley lived at the property with his mother Natalie Stone and father Bill Shearer, a director in a construction company, and an older sister. The couple bought the property last year and had been working on the section.

According to social media, Stone posted that she was planning to move to Greece this year.

Police were examining the scene last night.