Company too poor for fine

Photo / NZ Herald

A South Auckland contracting company has escaped a hefty fine and a large reparation order over the death of two workers because it has no money.

Wiremu Asphalt Contractors admitted a charge relating to the deaths of two men under a house when it collapsed at a marae last year.

Marsh Terahi Wiri Peihopa, 24, and Waepeke Ruihana Tupaea, 61, died when they were trapped under the house at Manurewa Marae after it collapsed when it was hit by a truck. Two others were injured.

In the Manukau District Court yesterday the company was ordered to pay reparations of $28,900. Judge Jonathon Moses said if the company was in a better financial position, he would have awarded fines and reparation totalling around $200,000. The Department of Labour charged the company.

The men were employees of Andrews Housemovers which had been contracted by the Manurewa Marae to take the house to its new site.

Wiremu Asphalt Contractors had admitted the charge laid under the Health and Safety in Employment Act of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure other people were not harmed by the actions of an employee.

The department also charged Wiremu Asphalt employee Deon Williams with failing to take all practicable steps to ensure his actions did not cause harm to other people.

He has denied the charge and is to defend it this month in the Manukau District Court.

- NZPA