A special-needs teenager has died after drowning in a bathtub at a care facility in Palmerston North.
Emergency services were called at 11.40pm on 10 January to attend to the 15-year-old.
Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later at Palmerston North Hospital.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said police are investigating and everyone involved in the boy's care will be interviewed. He says the family and carers are devastated.
"It's very early stages and clearly, the family and the people at the respite care are terribly upset. We'll be respecting that ... and as a result of that the interviews will take some time."
Mr Sheridan said all those involved are being offered counselling.