A baby that died during a nurse's hour-long break in the middle of the night, should have been checked

Open Justice reports the pre-term 50-hour-old baby had feeding and breathing problems - and was being fed through a tube on and off, for two days.

At midnight on the third morning, the nurse in charge took on a break and says she handed care to two midwives - which they dispute.

When she returned, the baby was pale and not breathing - and couldn't be revived .

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall says not checking the baby for more than an hour, was a failure by the nurse.

She's directed Health NZ to apologise to the parents.