Three falls from Wellington wharves in one day – one death

Tuesday, 15 August 2023

On the same day that Sandy Calkin died after falling off Wellington wharves, a child fell off the wharves nearby, near the bow of floating crane the Hikitia.

Two people fell on Wellington harbour wharves the same day another man drowned, with a contractor having missed turning safety lights back on after an event in one of the cases.

Sandy Calkin was last seen walking near Queens Wharf on July 10, 2021. His body was found later in the water.

Newly released information shows that same day, a child fell into the harbour near the Hikitia floating crane and was rescued by an adult jumping in.

Also on July 10, a person walking home from watching the Matariki fireworks tripped over timber surrounds of the Kupe statue and fell one metre into a void. They hit and cut their head on grate at the bottom.

Sandy Calkin, left, and Isaac Levings, died after falling into Wellington Harbour. Both their fathers believe the Wellington City Council needs to install permanent edge protection.

Calkin’s father, Roger Calkin, has been trying to get the council’s list of Wellington waterfront incidents under the Local Government and Official Information and Meetings Act since May. It was finally provided on Friday.

Documents show the council had been asked a week earlier to turn off the lights in the area for the Matariki Ahi Kā event, but missed turning the lights on again around the Kupe statue. The incident was reported to WorkSafe, the council notes say.

Calkin filed an Official Information Act request with WorkSafe about the incident, which said no such notification was received.

One concern was raised with WorkSafe on July 11 about waterfront safety, in light of a number of deaths in the Queens Wharf area. It referred the issue back to the council as “not WorkSafe purview”.

Council notes about the child falling into the harbour cite issues over the lack of lighting and edge protection, “especially in the gap between the wharf and spring fendering”.

“This poses a risk of falling in, both into the gap and off the outside of the fendering,” the notes say.

The incident sparked a recommendation that fencing be installed prior to large night events and better lighting be put in to highlight the gap.

Also on July 10, 2021, a person tripped on the timber surrounds to the Kupe statue and fell about 1m to the grates below. The grates were raised as a result.

Roger Calkin, who has been campaigning for the council to install barriers around the waterfront, said it appeared the council had done little to address the multitude of issues raised along the waterfront.

Councillor Nureddin Abdurahman in April, following the death of teacher Isaac Levings in Wellington harbour, said he had taken it on as his responsibility to ensure the waterfront was better fenced and safer.

“I will be working hard with other councillors to ensure adequate funding is included in the long term plan which commences in July next year for more improvements,” he said on Monday.

“I have written assurances from officers that safety improvements and initiatives will continue between now and the adoption of the next long term plan.”

Changes such as some handrails, bollards, painted edges, and cameras had already been installed, he said.

Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said safety work was continuing. Council records confirmed the council had notified WorkSafe about the Kupe incident, he said.

The council erects temporary fencing for events, such as the Fifa Women’s World Cup.