Owner 'distressed' after horse killed on city street

The horse caused substantial damage to the car. Photo / Thinkstock

The owner of a horse who was killed on a central Wellington street this morning is distraught and distressed, a close friend says.

Central police communications shift manager Dave Rose said police received reports that a person was riding a horse along Adelaide Rd in Newtown about 6.15am.

"We located that person, spoke to him and directed him to take that horse back to the grazing area in Island Bay where he had come from."

Mr Rose said police received another report shortly afterwards, notifying them that there had been a crash involving the horse and a car as she was being led back to her paddock.

"Unfortunately the horse died as a result of the injuries it sustained during the crash," Mr Rose said.

The horse called Te Haa was owned by Mere Takoko.

Speaking on behalf of her friend today, Maraea Rakuraku said Te Haa grazed at Tapu Te Ranga marae in Island Bay.

Ms Rakuraku said Te Haa was taken from her paddock by one of her carers early this morning.

Ms Rakuraku said Ms Takoko had built up a "core team" of three people that had hands on care of Te Haa.

"One of those members made a really bad decision and took Te Haa out with him this morning, without Mere's consent and without Mere knowing."

Ms Rakuraku said Te Haa was absolutely never taken out "that early".

"Mere would often exercise her down near the beach because the complex is in Island Bay, so she would get taken down there. She goes out she's exercised regularly. But this morning was a really bad decision made by that person. To take her out this early... it was a really bad bad decision made on his part.

"He's feeling it too, he had care of Te Haa... It has had such a terrible terrible impact."

Ms Rakuraku said Te Haa's death has had has left the community in mourning.

"Everyone is distressed, because as you can imagine it's a marae... Te Haa was petty sociable.

"Mere is so distraught it's awful... It is just awful when horses die like that."

Ms Rakuraku said she was unsure as to where Te Haa would be buried.

"We are working the practicalities of that out today. Everyone is still pretty distraught because it has impacted upon the whole community.

"Te Haa was very loved."

Police worked with the Wellington City Council to remove Te Haa from the road, using a digger and a flat bed truck.

This afternoon, a police spokesman said police were continuing to investigate.

"It's under investigation at this stage... It is legal obviously, but obviously you have got to have care and control over it. This horse has come free, it's under investigation whether he did have proper care and control over it."

The man could be charged with an infringement offence under the Land and Transport Act, he said.