Kymani Hiley-Hetaraka died after falling at a Christchurch ice skating rink.
A Christchurch teen’s death after a fall during a school ice skating outing sparked changes to safety rules at ice rinks across New Zealand – but a coroner has ruled no inquest or further investigation is needed.
Her family are angry at the decision and say there has been “no justice” or consequences.
Kymani Hiley-Hetaraka, 13, was with school friends at Alpine Ice in August last year when she lost her balance and fell backwards, striking her head on the rink.
Within hours, the teen’s life had changed forever – and two days later, her family faced the devastating decision to turn off her life support.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame has today confirmed she will not hold an inquest into the tragedy, explaining there is nothing she can say or do to prevent similar fatalities in future.
“We were angry with the decision not to hold an inquest only because ... we wanted the ones responsible for taking her to the ice skating rink that day to catch a consequence,” Kymani’s mother Maraea Hetaraka told the Herald.
“We want justice for our daughter.
“Since losing our daughter our family have been suffering immensely (with) depression. We all miss Kymani every day. It’s like a sadness has blanketed our family since the day of the accident and none of us has been right since.”
Kymani attended Haeata Community Campus and was participating in a programme run by local youth organisation Crossroads.
On July 30, a Crossroads leader took Kymani and others to Alpine Ice to skate.
Kymani had not ice-skated before, and her parents were not aware she was going skating that day.
Coroner Cunninghame explained that at the time, Alpine recommended that helmets were worn by skaters - and they had a supply available for use free of charge.
“Crossroads’ risk assessment management form had indicated that helmets should be worn ‘if needed’,” she said.
“Miss Hiley-Hetaraka skated without a helmet. She practised with a skating frame for support for a short time at first.
“While skating without the frame, she overbalanced and fell backwards, hitting her head on the ice. She was initially conscious and complained of a sore head, but collapsed shortly after she was helped from the ice.”
Kymani was rushed to the hospital, and soon after, doctors told her family she had a traumatic and non-survivable brain injury.
She died after life support was removed on August 1, 2024.
Kymani’s death was referred to Coroner Cunninghame to determine whether an inquest should be held.
She has now ruled there will not be any further inquiries into the tragedy and listed the reasons behind her decision.
“WorkSafe conducted an investigation into Miss Hiley-Hetaraka’s death… [and] issued a report, which noted there is no legislation requiring the use of helmets or any other safety equipment while recreational ice skating,” she said.
“Alpine’s recommendation that skaters wear helmets was in line with other ice rinks in Aotearoa at the time.
“Following the accident, Alpine now requires head protection to be worn while skating, as do other major indoor ice-skating facilities in Aotearoa.
“Crossroads has made ‘wide-ranging’ changes since the accident, including hazard and risk management training, and updates to policies and documentation… including but not limited to, parent consultation and notification documents and processes, pre visits and assessments by staff to all future activities and camps and reassessment of activity risk levels and the safety equipment required for each.”
Coroner Cunninghame said Kymani died due to complications of blunt head trauma after a fall while ice skating.
“WorkSafe concluded that no further action should be taken against any of the parties involved in the accident,” she said.
“The WorkSafe Inspector noted an intention to meet with Alpine, Crossroads and the Haeata Community Campus Board to discuss the outcome and their learnings from the incident.
“I am satisfied that the matters required to be established under the Coroners Act 2006 have been adequately established through the WorkSafe investigation.
“In light of the voluntary changes made by Alpine and Crossroads, I am satisfied that it is not necessary for me to make recommendations or comments.”
A copy of WorkSafe’s report was provided to those directly involved with the coronial process.
WorkSafe would not release that report to the Herald this week, saying an Official Information Act request was required.
However, a spokesperson did provide a statement.
“WorkSafe’s investigation was completed in July 2025, and no breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 were identified,” they said.
“We have met with the whānau of Kymani Hiley-Heteraka to discuss the outcome and extend our sincere sympathies. We have also spoken with the other parties involved to confirm the systemic changes they have made in response to the fatality.
“Helmets are now mandatory at Alpine Ice and at other major indoor ice-skating facilities.
“The majority of seasonal facilities - ice-rink pop-ups - around New Zealand are now mandating helmet use, while the rest are recommending their use.
“The Haeata Community Campus Board has thoroughly reviewed its processes, procedures, and wider risk management system.”
WorkSafe also discussed the issues at a meeting with Crossroads.
A spokesperson from Alpine Ice provided a statement to the Herald.
“Alpine Ice again extends its sincerest condolences to Kymani’s parents and to Kymani’s wider whānau. This tragic accident had a profound effect on many within our organisation and community. Kymani and her family remain in the thoughts of our people and the skating community,” it read.
“Helmets have always been available free of charge at Alpine Ice. Since the accident, all persons attending Alpine Ice for recreational public ice skating are required to wear head protection.”
The statement pointed out that helmet use for recreational ice skating is not considered standard in comparable facilities internationally.
“However, it is pleasing to see that many ice rinks across New Zealand have adopted similar head protection policies to Alpine.
“Alpine strongly supports helmet use for recreational public ice skating, and remains committed to promoting the use of head protection, both within our own facility and throughout the wider network of ice sport organisations and rink operators in New Zealand and Australia.”
Kymani’s mother and father Curtis Gwatkin were sent Coroner Cunninghame’s decision last week.
“We are still struggling to accept what happened that our daughter’s passing is now a lesson to why safety outside of school during a school trip is completely up to the kids keeping themselves safe,” Hetaraka said.
“Parents can’t rely on the people supervising their kids on these trips and know they will keep them safe.”
The grieving parents said the implementation of new safety measures “immediately” after Kymani died was “bittersweet”.
“Only because it came into effect after she passed,” Hetaraka explained.
“We as a family feel ripped off... we were very emotional with the outcome. Her death was preventable and as her parents, we hold the ones that took the kids to the rink that day responsible.
“They failed that day our daughter lost her life.”
Hetaraka said her family missed “Kymani’s life spark”.
“That only she bought into our family - her laughter filled up the room,” she said.
“She was the only one who could wrestle and keep up physically with our rambunctious boys.
“We miss her kindness and soft heart in our homes. We miss how she had all of our secrets; we miss her baking and her singing; we miss her arguing with her sissy Ferry - but most of all, we miss her love and how it filled up a room.”
The family wanted Kymani to be remembered “as a friend”.
“She loved people. She loved helping. She loved being loved,” Hetaraka remembered.
“She was such a kind kid. We want her back every day.”
Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz