A public housing complex on Barrington Street, in the Christchurch suburb of Spreydon, where a person died.
Photo: Nathan McKinnon

• Police were called to a property on Barrington Street on Wednesday afternoon.
• The death is considered unexplained.
• The police have not confirmed the reports of the child’s death.

Residents of a Christchurch public housing complex are shocked by an unexplained death at the scene, with one neighbour saying she “feels sick”.

A child is reported to have died at a complex on Barrington Street in Spreydon on Wednesday afternoon, but police have not confirmed the age of the deceased.

There was a children’s scooter in front of the house.

A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told RNZ she saw emergency services in the area but did not hear any commotion.

“Our other roommate came home from work and said there were tons of ambulances and police across the street,” she said.

“There was a guy standing there, facing the fence, with his hands above his head, and a policeman standing behind him.

“Our other roommate spoke to a neighbour who told him there were loads of ambulances, police and firefighters there.

“They also mentioned that there were a lot of little kids on scooters in the area.”

Photo: Nathan McKinnon

The woman said she would be saddened if she learned that a child had died.

“It makes me nauseous,” she said.

Police said Thursday morning they were treating the death as unexplained.

“Police continue to investigate a death that occurred at an address on Barrington Street yesterday,” they said.

“The death is being treated as unexplained at this time.”

Canterbury regional manager Kāinga Ora Liz Krause said in a statement the agency’s thoughts were with the friends and whānau of the deceased person.

“While this death is the subject of a police investigation, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”