A 59-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 10-month-old baby boy in Rotorua in 2014.

The local man is due to appear in Rotorua District Court later today.

Karlos Stephens died shortly after being admitted to Rotorua Hospital on 30 November 2014 with severe head injuries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow says recent medical advice on the cause of Karlos' death enabled Police to launch a homicide investigation.

'As the matter is now before the court, Police is not in a position to comment further, however I would like to thank all those who have assisted with our enquiries to date.”