Hori Kaiwai died in a crash north of Rotorua in March 2018. Photo / File
Hori Kaiwai died in a crash north of Rotorua in March 2018. Photo / File
The death of a much loved Rotorua Boys' High School teacher in a crash in 2018 has brought the dangers of driving while tired into the spotlight.
A coroner's report into the death of Hori Papa Ngaro Kaiwai has recently been released to the Rotorua Daily Post.
It shows the67-year-old had flown back to New Zealand from Australia the night before, arriving in the early hours of the morning before travelling to Rotorua without a good sleep.
In the finding, Coroner Michael Robb has endorsed messages to have a proper sleep before driving and has reiterated the dangers of fatigued driving.
Hori and his wife, Judith, went to a conference in Adelaide on March 11, 2018. About 7pm (9pm New Zealand time), they boarded a plane to Melbourne. They landed about 9pm and boarded another plane to Auckland about 11.30pm. That plane landed in Auckland at 5am New Zealand time.
The coroner's finding said Hori and Judith had breakfast at Auckland Airport before being taken to a property in Mangere about 7.30am by a family member where they had left their vehicle.
They started their drive back to Rotorua not long after being dropped off.
Judith was the front passenger and fell asleep on the way home. At some point, Hori said he was very tired, the finding said.
Just before they approached the Mamaku Ranges near Rotorua, Hori stopped the car, a Mazda Atenza, at a layby area and the pair slept for about 15 minutes before continuing their journey.
The finding said Judith fell asleep again as Hori drove.
About 10.15am, Eileen Watkins and her husband, John Voorend, were driving behind the Kaiwais' silver Mazda for about five minutes and noticed its speed dropped to about 60km/h and it was starting to pull to the left side of the road as if looking for somewhere to stop.
It stayed at that speed for a while before increasing again to 100km/h.
Watkins and Voorend then observed the Mazda heading towards the centreline.
They dropped their speed to give themselves time to react if anything happened.
The finding said Noel Kerr was driving his Fiat motor home on State Highway 5 towards Auckland that morning. His wife, Shirley, was in the passenger seat. As they passed the intersection of Maraeroa Rd, Noel Kerr saw the Kaiwais' silver car approaching from the north, about 150m away.
He noticed the right-hand wheels of the vehicle had crossed the centreline. The vehicle maintained this position and Noel Kerr became concerned. He sounded the horn in an attempt to get the driver's attention.
The scene of the crash that killed Hori Kaiwai. Photo / File
Noel Kerr then noticed the Mazda started to drift into his lane. When the vehicle was 75m away from the motor home, it had completely entered the opposite lane. The Kerrs noted in their evidence the driver's head was down, the finding said.
Noel Kerr braked and pulled to the left, taking evasive action to avoid a collision. The front right side of the vehicle struck the front ride side of the motor home. The impact caused the motor home to tip over onto its passenger side and slide across the road.
Noel Kerr said in his evidence the steering wheel was ripped from his hand due to the impact.
Eileen Watkins helped the Kerrs and Voorend contacted police.
Judith survived the collision and Hori died from his injuries at the scene.
Coroner Robb said Hori died from a massive head and upper cervical spinal injury.
He said as part of his recommendations that the dangers of driving while fatigued, particularly following overnight travel, were evidenced by this death.
He said the New Zealand Transport Agency identified warning signs of fatigue. These included restlessness, blinking frequently, yawning, excessive speed changes, braking too late, forgetting the last kilometres, drowsiness and drifting to the centreline.
He said the transport agency noted it was a common myth that coffee, fresh air or music helped combat fatigue.
"These measures only help in the short-term and New Zealand Transport Agency advises that stopping and getting a good night's sleep is the only cure for fatigue. Where stopping overnight is not a practical possibility, frequent breaks, and as necessary frequent breaks including a period of sleep, should be incorporated into the journey."
Coroner Robb endorsed the transport agency's message to stop and have a proper sleep prior to driving.
"I encourage drivers to only continue their journey when they feel fully refreshed."
Hori taught at Rotorua Boys' High School for 19 years before retiring in 2014. He taught Māori at the school, managed the school's waka ama team and was the kaumātua for both Boys' High and Rotorua Girls' High School kapa haka groups.
He was the grandson of Sir Apirana Ngata and hundreds of people attended his tangi at Mataatua Marae in Rotorua.
Mourners greet the body of Hori Kaiwai as he is brought on to Mataatua Marae on March 14, 2018. Photo / File
Signs of fatigue when driving: * Restlessness * Blinking frequently * Yawning * Excessive speed changes * Braking too late * Forgetting the last kilometres * Drowsiness and drifting to the centreline Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
