Child injured by gate

A 7-year-old boy has been critically injured at Auckland’s Botanic Gardens.

The child was injured after he was hit by an electric gate at the gardens’ entrance on Kotate Close in Manurewa at 2.45pm

A St John spokesperson said the boy was being transported to Kidz First Children’s Hospital at Middlemore Hospital.

The incident is being referred to Worksafe, a police spokesperson said.

The gate that crushed the boy is a metal, automated gate that opens to allow cars out of the gardens.

After the incident, police were opening and closing it, trying to determine how it came to shut on the boy.

Detective Sergeant Gareth Brown said police were not yet sure how the incident happened, but that it ‘‘was important to figure out so that it won’t happen again’’.

‘‘We are still waiting for the doctor’s report about the boy’s injuries, and to view CCTV footage of the incident,’’ he said.

Police taped off the Harry Beaumont entrance to the gardens, however, foot traffic was allowed through a side gate.

Volunteers from a house on Kotete Close set up road cones, and were working in shifts of three at a time to man the entrance.

‘‘They’re doing a terrific job,’’ said Brown.