Waka chief criticised

The Rotorua coroner has criticised the man who ran a waka course in which a prison inmate drowned on Lake Rotorua over five years ago.

Coroner David Dowthwaite released his finding on the death on Monday, saying inadequate safety procedures contributed to the drowning of Aupai Bruce Tohu on January 3, 2000.

Mr Tohu died after the waka he was in on Lake Rotorua capsized in rough waters.

He was on a prison-ordered course run by Mita Mohi through the Waiariki Institute of Technology.

Mr Dowthwaite criticised Mr Mohi and the Mokoia Taiaha Wananga Committee for not having written safety steps, a support boat near the waka, or lifejackets available.

Mr Mohi welcomed the finding yesterday, saying a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

He told the Daily Post there were now better safety procedures in place.

On the day of Mr Tohu's death, the inmates had been practising on land how to paddle a waka.

They were asked three times if they wanted to wear lifejackets but no one took up the offer.

Evidence at an inquest hearing in March 2001 was that a safety boat, carrying safety equipment including life jackets, was supposed to follow the waka but this did not happen.

Mr Mohi was supposed to be driving the support boat but was delayed because its motor would not start.

Bob Te Aonui, who was fishing in the area, managed to save five of the inmates but couldn't save Mr Tohu.

Mr Mohi, his son Patrick Mohi, and Benjamin Delaney applied for a rehearing after the coroner completed his draft finding and asked if they could call further evidence.

They were allowed to file affidavits, which said the coroner should not let the absence of written safety procedures smear the way Maori had taught and learned for centuries.

But Mr Dowthwaite said the benefit of recording such procedures was clear. Mr Tohu's death and two other drownings around the same time involving waka sparked a series of hui throughout New Zealand, resulting in the production of the Waka Safety Report.

- NZPA