Northland's farming community is being urged to be more vigilant in checking power lines on rural properties.
An inquest into the March 28, 2003, death of Preston John White, 34, of Hukerenui, 30km north of Whangarei, was held before Whangarei coroner Max Atkins yesterday.
Mr Atkins found Mr White died from electrocution
after a live power line had blown down into a paddock during a storm on March 28 last year.
Mr White had gone into a paddock between 9.30am and 10.15am to check two cows lying on the ground, Whangarei police Sergeant Janine Attwood-Graham said.
Mr White's father Tory White later found his son in the paddock and tried to revive him.
The condition of the power lines entering Mr White's property had previously been noted - when the house was connected to electricity - as possibly needing an upgrade, Northpower network manager Calvin Whaley said.
However, no action had been taken by Mr White or Northpower to remedy the situation.
It was considered the lines posed no imminent danger.
"The family could have acted on Northpower's suggestion on their own behalf and asked for the upgrade but there was no real danger at that time," Mr Atkins said.
Northpower could have been more insistent on the work being done as well, he said.
Mr Atkins made two recommendations:
Farmers should be more vigorous in checking the condition of power lines on their property and be prepared to call Northpower to help or advise them on what could be done.
Northpower to become more insistent in initiating repairs on private land where they could see a need.
"If only one similar accident is avoided then that is something," Mr Atkins said.
Mr Whaley said Northpower's responsibility for the maintenance of power lines ended where they crossed onto private land.
It was the land owner or electricity customer's responsibility for the safe use and maintenance of power lines on their property, Mr Whaley said.
Northpower had no requirements or responsibility to check lines on private property unless requested to do so, he said.
Mr Whaley said there was a need for an increase in safety at all levels of the community.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer
Pay just
per week ongoing
