Cattle Creek farm death shocks community

Last year, farm deaths were the most common workplace deaths for New Zealanders, WorkSafe statistics show. Photo / file

The Kurow-Hakataramea community is ''reeling'' after a 27-year-old man died in a farming accident at Cattle Creek on Tuesday night.

While police have yet to release the name of the man who died, Senior Constable Craig Bennett, of Kurow, called him a friend yesterday.

''He was a [really] great guy,'' he said. ''Our little wee community is reeling at the moment.''

Sen Const Bennett said he would be speaking with the family again today.

''At this stage they are dealing with this devastating incident and trying to understand what and how this has happened, he said.

''They have asked for privacy for the moment.

''Details may be released later once all of the family have been informed.''

WorkSafe is investigating the death at the remote Hakataramea Valley property, about 35km northeast of Kurow.

Waimate police responded to the incident, but did not return phone calls yesterday.

A WorkSafe spokesman yesterday said the agency would not ''provide any further information now that an investigation is under way''.

Emergency services crews were alerted to the incident about 10.30pm on Tuesday night.

Kurow Fire Brigade chief fire officer John Sturgeon confirmed a crew from Kurow attended the scene in the Hakataramea Valley and described it as ''traumatic'', but declined to comment further.

A St John spokesman said an ambulance attended the scene but did not transport anyone as ''the patient was sadly deceased at the scene''.

Early reports indicated the man at Cattle Creek died in an incident involving a hay baler.

Early reports also incorrectly stated the man was 25 years old.

Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.

Last year, farm deaths were the most common workplace deaths for New Zealanders, WorkSafe statistics show.

Not including yesterday's incident, there have been 19 recorded deaths on farms in New Zealand since the beginning of 2016.

Two of the six workplace deaths in Canterbury last year were on farms, as was the one workplace death in Otago.