The victim of the fatal farming incident at a rural property in Purau, which occurred shortly after noon last Friday has been named.
He was 34-year-old Christopher James Corlett from Taranaki.
Witnesses reported that the fertiliser truck Mr Corlette was driving was seen travelling backwards down a moderate slope before continuing down a steeper incline, coming to an abrupt stop in a gully.
Canterbury Police, Diamond Harbour Volunteer Fire Brigade and Westpac Helicopter attended the incident but the driver was confirmed as deceased at the scene.
Canterbury Police and WorkSafe New Zealand investigations into the cause of the incident are continuing.