Forester death: charges

The family of a forestry worker killed on the job have welcomed news of a prosecution being brought over his death.

Reece Reid, a 23-year-old from Wanganui, was crushed by a falling tree near Pongoroa, south of Dannevirke, on November 27. His family have been told that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is prosecuting over the death.

Mr Reid was employed by Great Lake Harvesting of Taupo for four months but had been felling trees for a much shorter time.

His girlfriend, Mareesha Gibbs of Wanganui, said: "What happened to Reece should never have happened. He had only been felling trees for the company for four months.

"His death shouldn't be allowed to fade away - something needs to come out of what happened."

Another family member, who didn't wish to be named, said she thought "there might have been prosecution".

"Something's got to be done."

She didn't know if the family would attend the court hearing.

The ministry cannot confirm the prosecution, or if the employer is being charged.

Ministry media adviser Britton Broun said: "The Health and Safety Group does not announce the laying of charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, or confirm the details in response to queries.

"If charges are laid, the parties have the right to apply for name suppression at the first call in court, so to announce the party charged would abrogate that right."