Tributes paid to quad bike victim

Aussie Richmond Tuhou has been identified as the farm worker killed in a quad bike incident on Tuesday evening in Waipawa. Image / Getty Images

Aussie Richmond Tuhou has been identified as the farm worker killed in a quad bike incident on Tuesday evening in Waipawa.

Police and emergency services were called to Kiloran Farm on Hautope Rd at 8pm after the 69-year-old did not return from his daily work.

Mr Tuhou died as a result of injuries received in the accident. His body was located shortly after a search of the property.

Isaac Pharazyn had known Mr Tuhou since they were young and had grown up doing dog trials together.

Mr Tuhou had worked at the Pharazyn family's Motere Station on and off for years and still went back every year to help with the bull sales.

"I'd never ring him, he'd just always turn up ready to help out," Mr Pharazyn said.

"That's the type of guy he was - he'd take the jacket off his back for you".

"The whole family knew Aussie - he was much loved and he'll be missed."

The owners of the Hautope Rd farm said their thoughts were with Mr Tuhou's family.

Mr Tuhou lived in Waipukurau with his wife and daughter.

He had been a life member of the Takapau Dog Trial club and his association with the club went back 30 or 40 years, fellow member Wayne Smith said.

Before Mr Tuhou came to Central Hawke's Bay he worked at Mohaka and was originally from the Poverty Bay/Ruatoria area, Mr Smith said.

Central Hawke's Bay dog trialist Nigel Clark said Mr Tuhou had not run his dogs much in the past 10 years but used to be a strong huntaway competitor.

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler said the accident was something you would not wish on any family. "It's every farmer's nightmare, something like this happening.

"The [Hautope farm family] will never get over this and neither will the family of Mr Tuhou."

A police investigation was under way into the cause of the incident.

A police spokesperson said the exact cause of death had not been determined and a coroner's report was awaited.