Two members of well known shearing gang killed in crash

Two members of one of Hawke's Bay's biggest shearing gangs were killed and eight more hospitalised when a van carrying 12 people crashed in southern Hawke's Bay today.

Two of the eight injured were reported to be in critical condition, and a mystery over the whereabouts of the driver was not solved until more than three hours later at 10.15am when a man was found shocked but apparently unhurt in bushes near the scene, police said.

The van, belonging to Dannevirke-based Paewai Mullins Shearing, had been travelling east and was rounding a right-hand curve when it left Weber Rd, about 26km southeast of Dannevirke, and hit a stand of pine trees about 6.45am.

The two deceased, understood to be a young man from Opotiki and woman from Te Karaka near Gisborne, died at the scene.

Both the Palmerston North-based Square Trust helicopters and Hawke's Bay's Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter flew to the scene.

Ambulances were called in from Dannevirke, Pongaroa and Pahiatua, along with volunteer firefighters from Dannevirke and other rural communities.

The two who were killed were understood to have been passengers seated near the sliding side door.

Police said the crash happened in dry weather, but mist and drizzle soon settled over the scene, as friends gathered and mourned.

A local farmer was alerted to the crash and called emergency services when two injured passengers arrived at his door.

Paewai Mullins Shearing is run by Tararua district councillor Koro Mullins and wife and former national Maori businesswoman of the year, Mavis. Neither were in the vehicle.

At the peak of the season they have been known to employ about eight gangs simultaneously in the lower North Island, and have held some of the bigger contracts, including Lochinver Station, between Napier and Taupo.

Mr Mullins, a former top open class shearer, is also employed as a shearing ambassador for a major shearing machinery firm and provides venue commentaries at competitions throughout the country.

Mrs Mullins is a former champion woolhandler, and was recently named as the first woman manager of a New Zealand shearing team, to compete at this year's world championships in Australia.

They have employed many of New Zealand's top shearers.

- NZPA