Police are making initial inquiries into a death at a property in Christchurch this afternoon.

Emergency services responded to an incident on Barrington St, Spreydon, about 2.30pm. About four detectives arrived on the scene half an hour later.

The Herald understands the incident involved a child. Kāinga Ora, which owns the property, said media “will need to contact police”.

A police spokeswoman provided the Herald with a statement at 6.20pm, confirming emergency services were called to the house about 2.30pm.

“Emergency services were called to ... reports a person was unresponsive,” she said.

“Sadly, despite medical attention being given, the person has died.

A policewoman passes a child's scooter at a property on Barrington St in Spreydon, Christchurch, where a child died on Wednesday. Photo / George Heard

“Police are in the initial stages of determining what happened.”

Officers were seen speaking with a man on the street who appeared stressed and agitated. The man was pacing on the footpath and then sitting against a fence as police spoke to him.

A woman was seen being escorted out of a property and into a police car.

A child’s scooter was visible at the front of the property.

Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) confirmed it was responding to a medical event in Christchurch.

Detectives at a house on Barrington St, Spreydon, Christchurch, this afternoon. Photo / George Heard

Emergency services respond to what they called a "medical event" on Barrington St, Spreydon. Photo / George Heard

A Fenz spokesman said Fenz was helping St John Ambulance and sending one fire truck from the Spreydon station.

A St John Ambulance spokesman confirmed it responded to an incident on Barrington St.

However, he also referred all questions to police.