The mayor of Whanganui says she has received dozens of messages of support for the family of a toddler who died in the grounds of the town's hospital.
Whanganui Hospital Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Police and the district health board are not confirming reports the 16-month-old boy was left in a car in the summer heat.
Whanganui Mayor Annette Main Photo: RNZ
Mayor Annette Main said the Whanganui community had come out in overwhelming support of the grieving family.
"The messages that I've been getting have been overwhelmingly saying to me that they are holding this family in their thoughts and in their hearts as they're going through this terrible time."
Ms Main said she did not know the circumstances of the death.
Scant details on toddler's death
Police remain tight-lipped about the circumstances leading to the death of the toddler.
They issued a [ http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/264128/police-silent-on-toddler%27s-name brief statement last night] saying they were unable to release more information and this morning local officers said they had nothing to add.
It has been reported the toddler's mother, a senior hospital staff member, left the boy in a car for hours last Friday.
Police still would not confirm that and also said they were not in a position to release the child's name.
They did not know when they would be making further comment.
This morning, a district health board spokesperson said it also could not comment further until the police investigation was complete.
