A 26-year-old has been charged with unlawful possession of a pistol after a two-year-old girl was found dead in the Auckland suburb of Mangere.

Police told media the child who died had a gun shot wound.

Detective Inspector Faa Va’aelua said emergency services were called about midday to a house on Favona Road, where a couple lived with their four children.

“We found the lifeless body of a two-year-old toddler – a young girl – and our inquiries have so far revealed she suffered a gunshot wound.”

He said the exact cause of death still had to be confirmed by the post mortem but it appeared the girl had died from the gunshot wound.

Sione Tatafu grew up with the father of the 2-year-old girl.

He said both sides of the family were upset and shocked.

“They’re just trying to keep it together at the moment.”

Police were still trying to establish whether or not the shooting was accidental.

“At this stage, our inquiry is revealing nobody – none of the occupants from the address – hold a firearms licence.”

Mr Va’aelua said the child would not be identified until her extended family had been contacted.

Police said in a statement the death was a terrible tragedy for the girl’s family, and their thoughts were with them.

They said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.