Dunedin man's family hurting over memorial

Sarah Baker at the memorial seat near Shag Pt. Photo / Gregor Richardson

The grieving family of Riley Baker are angry and hurt after being told a memorial containing the Dunedin photographer's ashes may be removed from Shag Pt, near where he was killed more than a year ago.

Baker, 26, died on State Highway 1 after Chinese tourist Limin Ma smashed into Baker's oncoming motorcycle on August 13, 2016.

The memorial, which comprises a bench and a plaque, was unveiled near the site of his death on January 13 - Riley's birthday. It had stood on NZ Transport Agency land, well away from the roadside and shrouded by bushes, for nine months.

But Baker's sister Sarah has been told in an email by Downer, which manages the area on behalf of NZTA, the memorial is to be removed.

This follows a single complaint from a member of the public.

Downer and the NZTA decided the plaque would have to be removed as NZTA did not want to set a precedent for memorials which it would "find hard to control in the future".

Sarah Baker said the memorial to her brother had been approved by officials before being installed.

"I just don't understand."

Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher said he was "supporting the family in getting the best possible outcome".