'I want McDonalds” were the first words of a hungry seven-year-old Welcome Bay boy who this morning woke from an induced coma after being struck by a vehicle in Welcome Bay.

Rawiri Wilson-Te Whata suffered critical head injuries when he was hit by a car on Meander Drive about 6pm on Monday night.


Rawiri's nana Miria looks over her grandson's letter of support with brothers Cassidy, 9, and one-year-old Iziah. Inset: Rawiri Wilson-Te Whata. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

He was out playing the spotlight hide and seek game with his brothers, cousins and other neighbourhood children on the first day of school holidays when the incident occurred.

He was taken to Tauranga Hospital and later airlifted in a critical condition to Starship Childrens, where he has since improved to a ‘stable condition' today, says an Auckland District Health Board spokesperson.

Speaking to SunLive at Rawiri's Meander Drive home, his nana Miria Te Whata says the Selwyn Ridge School pupil has been in a coma since the accident and this morning awoke on his own.

'The first person he saw was his mother and he straight away asked for McDonalds.

'It's great that he's woken up on his own, but they're still keeping an eye on him because he might slip in and out of consciousness.”

Miria says Rawiri doesn't remember what happened, but when his mother told him of the incident and the support he's getting from the community – he was overwhelmed.

'He's still the cheeky Rawiri. He's the main character of the street. When his mother told him the whole town is supporting him, he just cried. He had a tear in his eye.”

Rawiri lives in Meander Drive with his mother Corine and three brothers - one-year-old Iziah, Te Kahurangi, 6, and Cassidy, 9, along with aunty Monique and two cousins Trey and Cyprus.

His nana Miria and poppa Neil, who live in the house behind them, are helping Monique look after the children while Corine is staying at the hospital with her son.

Miria was at home when her third eldest daughter Monique ran up the driveway saying a child had been hit.

'It freaked her out because all the kids were playing games at the time,” says Miria, who was calling the children home for dinner when it happened.

'Rawiri was coming home for his too and that's when she heard the bang. I just came down and straight away saw it was Rawiri, so I just held on to his head and applied pressure to the wound.

'I didn't see where the bleeding was, but it was open up here [his head].”

At this point, Maria says police and St John Ambulance arrived, along with concerned neighbours who came out of their homes to see what had happened.

Rawiri was taken to Tauranga Hospital by St John Ambulance accompanied by his uncle. Miria arrived about 15 minutes later.

'It was about midnight that they decided that he get transferred to Starship,” says Miria.

The speed of vehicles travelling along Meander Drive is a concern to Miria, who says children are frequently crossing the road.

'It was the first day of the school holidays so they were all out – and as soon as it gets dark they all get their spotlights out and they have a game of spotlight.

'They all get called in at the same time for dinner and they all go in at the same time.”

She doesn't know how Rawiri didn't see or hear the car coming.

'There's nothing wrong with his hearing. He had an ear infection, but there's nothing wrong with his sight. He would have seen the lights.”

Miria says this is not the first time Rawiri has been in hospital as he was born with club feet.

'This is the first major accident he's ever had, other than a broken arm from not being too careful. But he's a dare-devil kid.”

She likens him to a cat with nine lives.

'His friends can't wait to get him back on the skateboard, climbing high fences. There's no fear in that boy.”

Rawiri is keen to return to school as soon as possible, despite his mother saying it will take time.

At Selwyn Ridge Primary a parent support group are rallying to support for Rawiri's family.

Principal Craig Price says the Year 3 pupil has been at the primary school for about a year and a half.

'He's a little boy who's full of life and energy. He's well-liked by his peers, so we were very concerned and upset to hear about the accident.”

Craig says the school is looking at gifting petrol vouchers for family members to travel to Starship, along with a meal roster. The children are also writing letters and messages of support.

'We just wish them all the best and want to let them know that the whole school community is thinking about them and our thoughts are with Rawiri through this time,” says Craig.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, says police are still investigating the incident and have been speaking with witnesses. He says alcohol was not a factor.

'The driver was breath tested and he wasn't over the adult limit.”

If you would like to help out through the schools STAR network, contact chairperson Karen McCabe on 075441088.