Whangārei Boys’ High School has asked for an extension to a WorkSafe improvement notice, after one of its students died at Abbey Caves last month.
Karnin Petera, 15, died on a school trip to the caves with 14 other classmates and two adults on May 9, when rising floodwaters swept him away from the rest of the group.
The trip occurred during a heavy rain warning, despite the school having a safety plan that included checking the weather forecast.
WorkSafe issued the school with an improvement notice, requiring it to review its systems for education outside the classroom, initially by June 14.
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A WorkSafe spokesperson said the school asked for an extension to this notice and the regulator agreed.
“WorkSafe allows such extensions when it is clear an entity is taking its obligations seriously and making an effort to comply,” the spokesperson said.
David White/Stuff
Abbey Caves, where a Whangarei Boys’ High School student died.A rāhui prevents anyone going further.
The school now has until July 10 to complete further work on improvements it has already identified.
While the school voluntarily stopped trips to high-risk environments after Karnin’s death, WorkSafe formalised this arrangement by issuing a prohibition notice.
This prohibition will continue until WorkSafe is satisfied the risk can be safely managed, the spokesperson said.
Trips that were stopped included an overnight forest trip, which also coincided with heavy rain.
David White/Stuff
Flowers placed at the entrance to Whangarei Boy High after the death of one of their students at Abbey Caves
Meanwhile, a rāhui placed on Abbey Caves will continue while investigations are ongoing.
Ngāti Kahu o Torongare, along with all the hapū of Whangārei, placed the customary restriction on the caves, which ae also known by the name Kiore Taretare.
The rāhui, which stops anyone entering the caves, was initially for a month but has now been extended indefinitely, said spokesperson Nicki Wakefield.
This has been supported by Whangārei District Council, was has kept fencing and signs up at the cave entrance, she said.
The various hapū in the area have a long list of things to consider before reopening the caves, while the council is also doing its own reviews, Wakefield said.
“The rāhui will be revisited once there’s more information … or indications that it’s time to lift the rāhui,” she said.
Hapū previously said they would consider further restrictions.
“We’ll give it the time required to identify what’s needed and continue to rest the whenua.”
