UPDATED 12.33pm: Support is being offered to the family of a four-year-old boy who died at a childcare centre in Auckland yesterday.

Aldrich Viju died at the Angels Childcare Centre in Takapuna in what's likely to have been an accident on playground equipment.

Auckland Malayali Samajam president Joseph Devasia said the kindergarten has offered counselling to the family.

He says his organisation is liaising with the extended family in India, "and also we are organising the funeral service and the prayer service."

Joseph Devasia said it hasn't been decided whether the boy's funeral will take place in New Zealand or India.

The Early Childhood Council is shocked at the news a child died at an Auckland childcare centre.

Police are calling the death of the 4-year-old at a Takapuna childcare a 'tragic accident.'

An investigation is underway, but it's thought to have happened on the playground.

Council chief executive Peter Reynolds said it's unbelievable, and deeply saddening that something like this could happen.

He said he feels particularly for the parents of this child, as well as the staff and other parents at the centre.

The Early Childhood Council says the death will impact heavily on all involved.

Mr Reynolds said nobody enters the world of childcare as a professional, envisaging something like this happening.