The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) has been granted a two-month extension to file a private prosecution against the employers of a Tokoroa man killed in a forestry incident.
Charles Finlay, 45, was killed in July last year when a tree struck him on his head. In the Rotorua District Court yesterday lawyers representing the CTU and Mr Finlay's employer M&A Cross Limited argued whether an extension should be made to the statutory period to bring a prosecution.
Judge Phillip Cooper ruled he would grant a two-month extension and would give his reasons at a later date.
WorkSafe New Zealand has the first right to prosecute for workplace deaths and once it has started legal action no one else can.
WorkSafe decided in February that it would not prosecute M&A Cross, but because the six-month period had expired the CTU had to apply for an extension.