Sentencing in tripple fatality

Thursday 16 March 2000

"A terrible tragedy that serves as a severe warning to all employers." This was the comment from OSH’s General Manager, Bob Hill, following the sentencing of Aquatech NZ, one of the companies involved in the deaths of three men working in an Auckland sewer on Waitangi Day last year.

Aquatech was sentenced in Auckland today after earlier pleading guilty to three charges relating to the incident that resulted in the deaths of two of their employees.

The company was fine a total of $30 000, the judge awarded all of the fines to the families of the victims.

Aquatech employees Eddie Rehia and Darren Skeen and Stargate Services employee Kenneth Karu died of hydrogen sulphide poisoning in New Zealand’s worst industrial accident in 20 years.

"It is incidents such as this that bring home the horrendous toll that can result from poor safety standards and inadequate organisation in the workplace," Mr Hill said.

Eddie Rehia was the brother of Aquatech owner Edward Neenee and lived with Neenee.

Viv Skeen, the father of Darren Skeen and an employee of Stargate Services was originally scheduled to work at the Fanshawe Street site but was replaced by Kenneth Karu.

"Events like this highlight the need for employers to think seriously about health and safety. It is dreadful that men have died for lack of an effective safety system," Mr Hill said.

Stargate and Metrowater are also facing charges in relation to the triple fatality and are due to reappear in court next year.