Man Admits Manslaughter in Tragic Death of Whangārei Toddler
Man Admits Manslaughter in Tragic Death of Whangārei Toddler
A 36-year-old man from Whangārei has admitted to manslaughter in the tragic death of his 3-year-old nephew, Reign Puriri, who fell from a moving vehicle in February 2025.
The incident occurred when Reign, who was in the care of his uncle, Aitua Puriri, fell out of the window of a ute while it was in motion. The toddler died from his injuries shortly after the accident.
According to court documents, the incident took place on February 23, 2025, when Puriri was driving his ute with Reign and his 4-year-old daughter. Neither child was restrained, and the vehicle had an expired warrant of fitness and registration. The family was traveling on a mix of sealed and unsealed roads when the tragedy occurred.
As the ute took a moderate curve, Reign leaned out the window and fell to the ground. Puriri stopped the vehicle and tried to assist the toddler, but Reign was unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Puriri, who was charged with manslaughter, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Whangārei in June 2025. He was remanded on bail and is set to be sentenced in October. During his police interview, Puriri stated he was driving at around 10 km/h and could not recall whether the vehicle was in first or second gear.
The case has been quietly progressing through the courts, but details have now been released as the summary of facts was made public. The court documents highlight the lack of safety measures, including the absence of child restraints and the expired vehicle documents.
Reign’s death has sparked discussions about child safety and responsibility, particularly in situations where children are left in the care of adults without proper supervision or safety measures in place.
Shannon Pitman, the reporter who covered the case, is a Whangārei-based journalist for Open Justice, focusing on court proceedings in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has been working in digital media for the past five years.
