Man dies after rock fall on State Highway 4 near Whanganui

The scene on the Parapara Highway, State Highway 4, where a man died while helping clear a slip.

The man who stopped to clear a slip and was killed by falling rocks on a main highway near Whanganui yesterday was Paul Lenard Batchelor.

The 70-year-old Taupo man was with a number of motorists who had stopped to clear debris off the road on State Highway 4 near the Raukawa Falls.

The man was with a number of motorists who had stopped to clear a small slip off the road on State Highway 4 near the Raukawa. Photo / Supplied

An ambulance passing by with another patient stopped to assist the group about 5.45pm.

Attempts were made to resuscitate Batchelor, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police urged motorists in the area to avoid travel on SH4 between Whanganui and Raetihi for safety reasons.

The road from Raetihi to Kakatahi was still closed on Monday morning, the NZ Transport Agency said.

A detour via Fields Track is in place, but is not suitable for heavy vehicles. Alternative routes include SH49, SH1 and SH3.

A SH4 resident who did not wish to be named, said the accident happened just past the Feild's Track turnoff.

She said Batchelor was "just trying to do the right thing" and that his death was tragic. She said the highway was notorious for slips and blockages and was built through some challenging terrain.

Meanwhile, residents along the windy highway say the New Zealand Transport Authority has been responsive to most incidents and slips.

But one woman, who lives closer to Whanganui and didn't want to be named, said the organisation took long periods of time to do repairs and it appeared the money was spent elsewhere.

She wasn't surprised that someone had been killed by a freak rockfall.

"The road doesn't get maintained a lot ... It's hardly surprising."

However, Robin Mann, who has been living on State Highway 4 for 15 years had nothing but praise for the work NZTA contractors did on the road.

"I have been here 15 years and can say that if there's been a slip then they're always on to it."

55-year-old George Potaka grew up on SH4.

He agreed the organisation did their best to fix any slips or other roading incidents.

"They do pretty well, considering. Nothing's ever quick but the do keep it open, they do a pretty good job."

However, there were dangerous areas of cliff that hung ominously over the road.

"It's never all good, but there's a lot of work to do on there but there are some pretty dangerous spots down through home there, but having been brought up on the Paraparas you know where the dangerous parts are, where the cliffs are going to fall, you know they're going to come down eventually, if not on top of you.

"So we know where to watch when you live there," he said.

Ross I'Anson, NZTA Transport Systems Manager said  repair work had recently been carried out at a number of sites on State Highway 4 and was still underway.

"The type of material that makes up these areas (Papa) is particularly susceptible to weathering.

"We regularly monitor the condition of the road and the surrounding hillsides, and our contractors clear slips as quickly as possible to remove rocks and dirt from the road."

I'Anson said they were carrying out an urgent review of what happened.

"While this review is underway and the incident is being investigated we're unable to provide further information on the specific circumstances.

"If people encounter a slip or any debris on a state highway we strongly urge them to report it to us in the first instance by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49), so that contractors can be dispatched to clear the debris."

SH4 will remain closed overnight but will reopen to a single lane tomorrow morning.