11 Apr 2014

Council charged over lawnmower death

6:17 am on 11 April 2014

Hastings District Council is being charged by the Government over the death of a young boy beneath a council lawnmower.

Uetaha Ransfield-Wanoa, who was four years old, was killed in Kirkpatrick Park in October last year when he went under the mower.

The 72-year-old driver was later charged by police over the accident.

WorkSafe New Zealand has now also laid charges against the Hastings District Council under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

If found guilty, the council could face a maximum fine of $250,000.