PRESS RELEASE
5:30PM MONDAY 17 OCTOBER 2016
Killed At Work Whanau Support

Latest quadbike death adds to sorry toll in New Zealand's most dangerous industry

Killed At Work whanau group advocates KAWWS today expressed their grief and aroha for the families left behind after New Zealand's latest quadbike accident at Taharoa, near Waitomo, killed a teenage girl yesterday evening.

"More than 285 New Zealanders have died at work since the Pike River disaster" says group spokeswoman Selina Eruera, whose son Eramiha Pairama was killed at work in forestry near Taneatua in 2013. "Agriculture alone has killed 109 people, and is by far our most dangerous industry for being killed at work".

"The heartache and pain of loosing my son is like nothing I have ever experienced before, and I wish every day I could rewind time back" Eruera says. "We have one of the worst death rates in the Western World. As a mother, this is UNACCEPTABLE! As a country, we can do better. We need to do better".

Linda Jane Sewell's 19 year old son Tom was killed on his first day at work at a Katikati kiwifruit orchard in a quadbike crash in 2008. "Since my son died I have been continually dismayed by the number of quadbike deaths occurring in New Zealand on a regular basis. Despite Coronors warnings and recommendations by Worksafe, people continue to die. Other countries have brought in legislation to reduce deaths rates. New Zealand should follow their lead" she says.

Killed At Work Whanau Support is an advocacy group for and by survivors of death at work. Its members include whanau survivors of the Pike River disaster, the forestry industry and others, and it was set up at the hospice bedside of Helen Kelly.

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