Inquiry after girl, 6, dies at bike park

The Department of Labour is investigating the death of a 6-year-old girl killed when a quad bike rolled on her.

Emergency services were called to the Thundercross Valley Bike Park, 20km west of Huntly, about 3pm on Saturday after Amber Taylor Vincent was killed.

It is understood she was with her father at the park and was wearing a helmet while riding the bike.

A Department of Labour spokesman said yesterday that investigators went to the site soon after the accident happened.

The investigation is expected to continue today and could take up to six months, depending on the complexity of the case, the spokesman said.

A memorial service for Amber is being held on Wednesday in Papakura.

Family and friends paid tribute to her in emotional family notices.

"A beautiful young girl taken from her family too soon," read one. "She will be dearly missed."

Another said: "A wee angel taken too soon."

Two cabinet ministers have dismissed calls for quad bike law reforms after the accident.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson's spokesman said there were no plans for a minimum riding age, and Transport Minister Stephen Joyce's office said quad bike safety on private land was not his responsibility, the Herald on Sunday reported.

James and Fiona Fowlie own the 300ha bike park, which attracts off-road enthusiasts from Auckland and Waikato.

Competitive motocross rider Nick Fowlie helps to run it.

"The bike went down a sort of a steep bank and it rolled on top of her and ... the bike crushed her head, well, crushed her helmet, giving her brain injuries," he told Newstalk ZB.

In another quad bike incident at the weekend, the Youthtown Trust rescue helicopter responded to a call from a forest along Poihipi Rd about 8km north of Taupo.

A 38-year-old man broke ribs when he fell while quad biking with friends.

He was treated by St John paramedics and flown to Rotorua Hospital for treatment.