A forestry foreman who felled the tree that killed his mate has gone to the High Court to appeal against his sentence.
In August last year Major Nelson, 26, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act that being an employee, he failed to take all practicable steps to prevent an action of his at work, namely felling a tree, from causing harm to 23-year-old Robert Ruri-Epapara.
Mr Ruri-Epapara was hit by a tree felled by Nelson in the Waione Forest, near Lake Rotoiti, on March 26, 2013.
Nelson was fined $35,000 and ordered him to pay reparation of $15,000.
Nelson was also a director and 40 per cent shareholder in Complete Logging Ltd, which was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $75,000 in relation to the incident.