Family to farewell digger driver

Murray Taylor pictured with his wife Jill Taylor. Photo / Supplied

The digger driver killed in a quarry landslide will be farewelled on Monday.

Quarry owner Murray Taylor, 56, was buried beneath 1500 tonnes of rock when an over-hanging limestone cliff-face gave way.

His death is still being investigated by police and Worksafe, which said Mr Taylor had not gained the qualification needed to operate his North Canterbury lime quarry.

Today, a death notice was published in

The Press

which paid tribute to the "treasured husband of Jill, devoted and adored father of Estelle, and Courtney, dearly loved son of George and the late Esther Taylor" who died in the "tragic accident".

A service to celebrate Mr Taylor's life will be held in the Bishopdale Seventh Day Adventist Church at Breens Rd in Christchurch on Monday at 1pm.

It will be followed by a graveside service at Balcairn Cemetery, near to where he lived.

In lieu of flowers, the family have asked that donations be made to the Waikari Volunteer Fire Brigade or St John Ambulance which raced to the scene to try and save his life on Monday.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

Mr Taylor's family has asked for privacy and for media to stay away from the funeral.

In a family statement released through police yesterday, the family remembered Mr Taylor as a "loved and dearly treasured man".

They thanked police and the recovery team for their "constant hard work and care throughout this difficult time".

Worksafe general manager of high hazards and specialist services Brett Murray said the investigative process would take some time.

"It will not be until that is concluded that we will consider what steps should then be taken," he said.

"WorkSafe will be reviewing in our investigation the role that every party connected to this tragedy has played."

The prohibition notice issued by WorkSafe will remain in place until the high hazards unit is "satisfied that the site presents no danger to anyone on the site and there is an appropriately qualified manager on site to manage operations".