Keen fisherman Stanley Tsoi had fished off Southland’s Slope Rock many times before.
On October 3, 2023, the 47-year-old was fishing with a friend when a large wave washed over the rocks and struck the pair.
Tsoi, who wasn’t wearing a lifejacket, hit his head on a rock and was last seen floating out to sea.
In an inquest finding released today, Coroner Emma Hoskins said the area where he was swept away was a “high-risk location where other rock fishermen had previously died”.
She reiterated the importance of wearing a lifejacket while rock fishing after Water Safety NZ data revealed rock fishing fatalities had exceeded the 10-year average for the sixth year in a row.
Tsoi, an Invercargill restaurant owner, was fishing with his friend from the rocks at Slope Point, Curio Bay..
Both men had fished there many times before.
That afternoon the weather was calm and fine with a light breeze, but the sea was rough.
Tsoi was not wearing a lifejacket and had long trousers on and a long-sleeved shirt.
Just after 2pm, a large wave came over the rocks.
Tsoi’s friend described it as coming over the rocks with water above the height of his knees.
While he was able to maintain his balance, Tsoi could not and was knocked into the sea.
The friend saw Tsoi face up and being dragged out to sea by the current. He was unresponsive.
Emergency services were alerted and a nearby boat searched for Tsoi’s body, which was recovered about 4pm that day.
The coroner said Tsoi had died by drowning after he hit his head on the rocks. His head injury would have been sufficient to render him unconscious, but would not have been fatal.
“The dangers of rock-fishing have been well publicised in the media and in previous coronial cases,” Hoskins said.
“As recently as August 2025 a coroner recommended an urgent law change to make wearing lifejackets mandatory for all rock-fishermen.”
According to Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, rock-fishing has been the highest risk activity for coastal fatal drownings in previous years.
In 2019, Shaun Orchard, 23, and Hendrix Kamo, 28, of Southland, were swept off the rocks while fishing in the same area.
Hoskins recommended people fishing from the rocks follow safety guidelines published on the Surf Lifesaving New Zealand website.
These include:
Water Safety New Zealand data showed 10 New Zealanders drowned while fishing from land in 2025, while there had been 80 deaths from 2016 to 2025. All victims were male.
So far this year, there have already been three fatalities of land-based fishers.
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon said male, Asian New Zealanders are over-represented in rock-fishing fatalities.
“NZ’s drowning data reveals some stubborn patterns in rock fishing drownings. Neglect of safety gear is a big one – lifejackets are the single preventative measure that could drastically reduce fatalities,” he said.
Land-based fishing fatalities in 2025 were up 27% on the 10-year average (2015-2024) of 7.3 fatalities and marked the sixth consecutive year where drownings from this activity exceeded the 10-year average.
“Water Safety New Zealand reinforces the urgent need to shift the culture around lifejacket use for rock fishers.
“No fish is worth your life. Check the conditions, and if in doubt – stay out.”
Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.