Call for justice to protect tourists

THE widow of an American tourist killed at Mt Nicholas Station more than two years ago says New Zealand’s justice system is designed to protect the tourist industry, not the interests of tourists.

Kate Jurow’s husband, Richard Hyde (72), died in a helicopter on his way to hospital on April 15, 2015 after a Southern Discoveries bus reversed into him.

Ms Jurow, of Somerville, Massachusetts, was not with him at the time.

The bus driver, granted permanent name suppression, was later charged with carelessly operating a vehicle causing Mr Hyde’s death, sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and disqualified from driving for six months.

Southern Discoveries was not prosecuted and WorkSafe decided not to investigate the fatal incident because it was treated as a ‘‘road accident’’ and investigated by police.

Ms Jurow wrote to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Transport Minister Phil Twyford on Tuesday calling for improvement to the justice system.

Her letter said the driver and company ‘‘walked away with barely a slap on the wrist’’, and the sentence was a ‘‘hurtful, grievous insult to Rich and to our family’’.

‘‘For all intents and purposes, Rich might as well have been a stop sign that got knocked over.’’

She received a ‘‘survivor’s grant’’ of US$4576 (NZ$6744), in June 2016, but no emotional harm reparation was ordered.

Ms Jurow could not find a lawyer to help her navigate the ‘‘totally unfair legal system’’ and felt she had been kept in the dark.

‘‘It is both shocking and inexcusable that a country like New Zealand, supposedly a ‘first world’ tourist destination, should be so casual and indifferent to victims and their families.

‘‘With tourism now your major income source, this is both shameful and incomprehensible.

‘‘Your country, and its increasing number of visitors, deserve better.’’

Yesterday, the Safe and Effective Justice Programme Advisory Group, launched in July to improve the New Zealand justice system, visited Queenstown as part of its nationwide consultation.

Victim advocate and group member Ruth Money said the goal was to ‘‘transform, not just tinker with’’ the system and feedback like that of Ms Jurow’s was welcomed.

‘‘These are the victims we’re hearing from and these are the victims we need to hear from,’’ she said.

Draft recommendations are expected to be publicly released in the first few months of next year before final recommendations would go to Justice Minister Andrew Little for consideration midyear.

To provide feedback on New Zealand’s justice system, email safeand effective@justice.govt.nz