Police confirm review into soldier's death

Private Michael Ross. Photo / Supplied

Police are helping the Defence Force review the death of an army private who drowned during a training exercise last year.

A police spokesperson has confirmed police are "assisting the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in reviewing material in relation to the death of Private Michael Ross''.

"At this stage we have no further comment to make.''

The 29-year-old rifleman died during a training exercise on Lake Moawhango, near Waiouru, on September 25 last year.

He was just weeks away from being discharged from the army when he fell out of an under-inflated Zodiac. His lifejacket failed to inflate because a used gas canister had not been replaced.

The Defence Force were prosecuted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in relation to the death, and pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide a safe working environment.

In sentencing, Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said Private Ross was let down by the widespread failures in safety protocols which amounted to a ``systemic failure'' by the NZDF.

The key failure was Private Ross' faulty life jacket but the judge also criticised a lack of safety checks, training, and operational errors.

NZDF was convicted and discharged, as a fine cannot be imposed on a Crown entity.

The Ross family had been paid $241,000 in reparation.