Kaumatua dies as car hits horse

The small Bay of Plenty town of Te Teko is mourning the loss of a respected elder and mother of 10 who was killed when a horse strayed on to a main road at night.

Mihi Enoka, 74, was returning from a poroporoaki (farewell) for a relative who had died when the car she was in collided with a horse on Te Teko Rd at 10.15pm on Tuesday.

Mrs Enoka was the front-seat passenger in the car, which was driven by her 78-year-old husband, Jerry.

He was shaken but not hurt. Police said he had been unable to avoid the horse, which was one of five that had got out of a paddock and wandered on to the road.

Mrs Enoka died instantly.

The horse that was struck was a gelding named Tahi (Maori for "one") that also died.

A tangi for Mrs Enoka began yesterday at Uiraroa Marae.

Relatives said the former school teacher and mother of five boys and five girls had kaumatua status.

"She was very respected," her son Wally said. "There's not many people her age around here."

Both said the crash was not the first involving stray horses in Te Teko and that the problem was worse during school holidays when children brought their horses into town.

The horse-loving town is also home to the Whakatane Racing Club.

Wally Enoka said about half the town, including his family, owned horses, because they had the space.

He did not blame the owner of the horses that had been loose on Te Teko Rd.

The fatal accident happened in a 50km/h zone near Te Teko School. A sign warns motorists about horse riders in the area.

Senior Sergeant Mark van der Kley, of Kawerau, said Mrs Enoka's husband was going about 50km/h but had no time to brake or avoid the horse.

"It was pitch black," Mr Van der Kley said.

The owner of the horse, he said, had told police the horses were secured in a paddock but that children were known to let them out.

However, a group of boys, including one who usually rode Tahi, told the Herald that the horses had broken a gate and escaped.

"They get bored," one of the boys said.

Mr Van der Kley said the investigation would continue.

"Obviously the security of the horses is an issue for the police to be inquiring into."