Coroner: Fisherman ‘casual’ about water safety

A fisherman washed off the rocks near Raglan would have boosted his chance of survival if he’d worn a lifejacket, a coroner says.

Laken Toko Watene was swept to his death on December 1, 2022, at Crayfish Point wearing a Swanni, shorts and gumboots - a site where at least six other people have been washed out to sea, a report from Coroner Bruce Hesketh said.

Hesketh has recommended that anyone fishing near or from rocks wear a lifejacket, something Watene’s fellow fishers now say they should have done.

The coroner also recommended putting up suitable safety signage at the rock fishing points and the installation of public rescue equipment, such as fixed flotation devices.

He said the lack of signage “poses a significant risk to the public, particularly those who engage in recreational rock fishing”.

Watene’s body had not been recovered and his death was recorded as drowning.

The report notes Watene had gone to Crayfish Point at Matira, between Raglan and Port Waikato, with a colleague, Pakatai Awatere, who had been “fishing in this area for around 10 years”.

Watene’s partner Savannah Rose McTainsh told the inquiry Watene “was casual when it came to water safety, including on his boat”.

“Although he would insist she and the children wear lifejackets he would usually not bother, or if he did he would take it off when fishing.

“Although she had not been out to the Matira rocks she was certain he would not have been wearing any form of flotation device while rock fishing.”

A third man fishing with Watene, Adam Wiremu Lush, also confirmed the lack of flotation devices to police.

The report noted the men were fishing and by about 2pm, “all three men noticed the waves were getting bigger”.

A large wave struck the rocks and, while Awatere and Lush “were able to grab the rock in time”, Watene was swept out to sea.

“After the wave hit both men looked back out to the ocean and saw Mr Watene floating backwards. The tide was pulling him back out and he was already approximately 20 metres away from the rocks.”

Lush said that “with the benefit of hindsight they should have been wearing lifejackets”.

Awatere’s statement said he could see Watene “trying to swim against the current but the wave was dragging him back out toward the ocean”.

They attempted to throw a rope to Watene, but he couldn’t reach it.

“Mr Awatere saw Mr Watene go under and not resurface.”

Coroner Hesketh noted none of the trio wore lifejackets, and said “Mr Watene had a blasé attitude to wearing a lifejacket when on his boat and did not have any form of flotation device with him that day”.

He also said that at a hui facilitated by Mahara Toka of Waikato-Tainui, he was told by by Pukerewa Marae chair and mana whenua Era Whare “in his lifetime there have been six people swept off the rocks in that area”.

Coroner Hesketh said Watene’s death was accidental, and extended his deepest condolences to Watene’s whānau and friends.