Forestry inquest continues

Did George Mahanga make a misjudgement or was he reckless?

That's the question Rotorua coroner Dr Wallace Bain will have to grapple with when he makes his finding into the former bushman's death.

Mr Mahanga, 38, died while freeing a snagged rope in the Kinleith Forest on March 6, 2012.

An inquest into his death began in the Rotorua Coroners Court on Thursday, when evidence concluded yesterday Dr Bain adjourned proceedings.

This is to allow for two further inquests into forestry-related deaths to be heard in February. These will be followed by expert evidence relating to all the deaths and recommendations made on preventing future forestry fatalities.

The lawyer assisting the coroner, Fletcher Pilditch, indicated this could be in the first quarter of next year.

Dr Bain is investigating eight forestry-related deaths during 2012 and 2013.

Giving evidence for the forestry block's managers, Hancock Forest Management Ltd, Peter Myers said Mr Mahanga died when he was struck in the neck by a tail rope caught in what's technically known as a bind.

He said Mr Mahanga had been attempting to free the snagged rope while standing in its 'bight' - the area it would have swung into when its tension was freed.

"Mr Mahanga either misjudged the location of the bight and did not believe he was standing in it . . . or was being incredibly reckless and had not considered where the bight was located at all," Mr Myers said.

He noted Mr Mahanga had been acting of his own accord without consulting his colleagues when he attempted to free the rope and contrary to what he and another worker had discussed doing.

He told the court when he investigated the area in the immediate aftermath of Mr Mahanga's death, he had difficulty assessing the angle of the bight.

"It makes you wonder whether he was able to make the correct assessment," he said.

He said Mr Mahanga had taken other shortcuts the day he died which weren't best safety practice.

He reiterated evidence from earlier witnesses that while Mr Mahanga was considered an experienced bushman in a practical sense he didn't have unit standards in theory.

Since his death these became compulsory, Mr Myers said.

Before the inquest was adjourned Valda Tahere, who described herself as "George's baby sister", tearfully thanked the coroner for bringing those at the inquest together to uphold her brother's mana.

"You have allowed us to scrutinise why he is not here today," she said, concluding with a karakia (prayer).

Among those supporting the Mahangas in the public gallery were representatives of other families whose husbands, sons and brothers have been killed working in the bush.