WorkSafe visited Abbey Caves tragedy school weeks ago after machinery injured teacher

Stuff can reveal Whangārei Boys’ High was visited by workplace safety inspectors two months before a student died on a trip to the Abbey Caves.

In March 2023, WorkSafe visited the school to carry out an on-site assessment after a teacher was injured in an incident involving unguarded machinery.

WorkSafe has verified the visit saying orders were given to the school, who pledged they’d do better.

“WorkSafe issued a directive letter to the school, requiring safe operating procedures to be put in place for the machinery,” a spokesperson told Stuff in a statement.

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“The school committed to make the improvements,” the spokesperson said.

“A directive letter is used in situations where the risk or compliance gap is relatively low, and/or where the inspector has high confidence the organisation will voluntarily make the required improvements.

“In this case, our involvement ended with the directive letter.”

The school has been approached for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, the board of the Whangārei Boys’ High School have broken their silence after the Abbey Caves tragedy, where a 15-year-old student died.

Karnin Petera was on a trip to the caves with 14 other classmates and two adults when rising floodwaters separated him from the rest of the group on Tuesday morning.

In a message to the community also on Thursday afternoon, board member Andrew Carvell said Karnin was a treasured and deeply loved son, brother, friend and an inspiration to fellow year 11 students.

“It is with immense sadness I acknowledge the tragic passing of Karnin Ahorangi Petera, following the event at Abbey Caves on Tuesday. We extend our sincere condolences to his whānau,” Carvell said.

“As Trustees and parents, we share the hurt this event has caused.”

He said there was a plan in place to monitor the welfare of students and staff – prioritising those most affected by the event – and are “working closely” with the Ministry of Education.

Access to counsellors for those who need additional support will also be provided, Carvell said, which will remain in place as long as required.

“The board are fully supporting a thorough investigation into this event by the NZ Police and Worksafe NZ.”

Police and WorkSafe have launched a joint investigation but will give those involved some time to grieve before being questioned, police say.

Police first received a call about a group “in difficulty” at the caves near Whangārei at 10.26am on Tuesday, with the body recovered about 9.30pm.

Despite the search being called of at around 5pm on Tuesday, a body was later recovered using specialist equipment “late” that evening, police said.

“It is with deep sadness that we wish to inform you that our beautiful boy Karnin Ahorangi Petera has indeed tragically passed away during the unfortunate incident at the Abbey Caves,” Kim Cuddy, the boy’s auntie, posted on social media.

“He is now laying in state at his home surrounded by all his Whānau and friends.

We would also like to extend a welcome to anyone else from the community who also loved our baby boy and want to pay their respects.”

Petera will be taken to Paa Te Oro Marae at Te Karae, Kohukohu near Mangamuka where he will lay in state.

Ngatiwai Trust Board chief executive Huhana Lyndon said Ngāti Kahu ki Tongarere hapū members returned to the caves on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, Petera’s family thanked emergency responders for their “tireless efforts” in a social media post.

“On behalf of the whānau of the missing WBHS student, we cannot express how grateful we are to all those who were involved in helping us find and bring our baby boy back to us,” Cuddy wrote, who gave Stuff permission to quote her.

“Police, fire crew, search and rescue, medical crew and so much more. We all felt so supported and cared for throughout the entire process. Your tireless efforts and aroha will be with us forever.”

Cuddy also thanked the public for their “prayers and kind words”.

Stuff previously revealed that the group caught up in the floodwaters were meant to be rock climbing, but bad weather had forced the trip underground instead.

In an email sent to parents last Friday, the school’s head of outdoor education Stevie Huurnink said that due to “forecasted rain” they had to modify “planned trips”.

Whangārei Boys’ High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith has thus far refused to answer questions about the death.

Investigation will be thorough – police

The investigation into what occurred in the Abbey Caves tragedy will be robust and thorough, said Northland District Commander, Superintendent Tony Hill.

Police, working on behalf of the Coroner, and WorkSafe will jointly investigate the incident but are still at the early stages, he said.

“We don’t want to put people through further stress than necessary – for many people these events will be hard to relive.”

Investigators will allow the people involved to have a short time to grieve before they are questioned, Hill said

He urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the incident or who was responsible, but to wait for the investigation to conclude.

Hill revealed a specialist caving team from Northland was involved in the search and recovery of the boy on Tuesday.

Specialist equipment, including camera equipment, was also flown up from Auckland by police helicopter, enabling the recovery on Tuesday night.

On Thursday afternoon, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti fielded questions about the death.

“I want to take the time to support the family, principal, school, the young people involved. At the centre of this, we’ve got a beautiful young boy that didn’t come home, and never will again,” Tinetti said.

Tinetti said she expected answers around the circumstances of the death would begin to come next week.

“While we don’t like these kinds of events, they’re often a time for us to take stock,” she said.