FAMILIES PAY TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS
Two colleagues who died in a suspected fall on Taranaki Maunga were both experienced mountaineers and dedicated family men, their grieving families say.
Richard Phillips, 46, and Peter Kirkwood, 33, died shortly after reaching the summit on Tuesday night. Their bodies were recovered from the mountain about 8am yesterday.
The pair, who lived in Christchurch and were employed by environmental and engineering consultancy company Tonkin and Taylor, had travelled to Taranaki for work, but ventured up the mountain for a recreational trip.
Kirkwood’s wife, Kerrie Ann Kirkwood, said the mountains were ‘‘central to Peter’s life’’.
He was born and raised in Cardiff, Wales, and the couple, who met at university, spent time working, skiing and climbing in the US, before moving to New Zealand in 2018.
Kirkwood had climbed ‘‘numerous peaks’’ in the European Alps, the Scottish Highlands, the North American Rockies, and New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
He was looking forward to introducing his baby daughter, Elaine Sierra, to the mountains the family ‘‘loved so much’’, Kerrie Ann Kirkwood said.
‘‘He was a loyal, considerate and adventurous soul, who will be dearly missed by his friends in the UK, the US, and in Christchurch.
‘‘Peter’s loss leaves a huge hole in the lives of his family and friends.’’
Phillips’ family said he was a dedicated family man, leaving behind partner Jacqueline, who he met while travelling in Nepal in 1997, and their teenage daughters, Freya and Indy.
The couple moved from the UK to New Zealand in 2008 and brought their daughters up to share their love of the outdoors.
‘‘Rich was happiest in the hills with his family and his beloved dog Betsy.’’
He was an experienced climber, hiker, mountain biker, and diver, and was ‘‘the sort of person who could turn his hand to anything’’ – including having a hands-on role in building the family’s home on Christchurch’s Port Hills.
‘‘He was a loyal and loving friend who would never fail to go the extra mile for anyone. He earned the respect and admiration of those he met at home, at work, on his travels and even on the sidelines of his girls’ sporting events,’’ his family said.
‘‘He was the rock of his family, and they are devastated by his loss.’’
Tonkin and Taylor group managing director Dr Tim Fisher earlier said those at the company were mourning the loss of ‘‘two of our treasured people’’.
‘‘Our priority right now is to support their families and our people as we deal with this incredibly sad news.’’
Phillips, who had a masters degree in engineering geology, worked to help clear slips along State Highway 1 following the Kaiko¯ ura earthquake in 2016, and made headlines after rescuing a lamb stuck in a crack near Waiau.
Phillips recently took to social media to pay tribute to friend and Antarctica New Zealand field trainer, Tom Arnold, who died in a rockfall while doing geotechnical work near Lake Manapo¯ uri in Fiordland on April 20.
In the aftermath of the Kaiko¯ ura earthquake, according to Tonkin and Taylor, the pair worked side-by-side high above the state highway doing slope stability work, which included placing explosives and directing helicopter-sluicing.
Kirkwood worked as a geotechnical engineer for Tonkin and Taylor.
In the wake of the double fatality on Taranaki Maunga, Nga¯ Iwi o Taranaki, the eight iwi of the region, placed a ra¯hui on all access routes to the summit. The ra¯hui would be reviewed in a week.
South Taranaki iwi Nga¯ruahine said it understood Phillips and Kirkwood had fallen on the southern side of the summit, near Panitahi or Fanthams Peak.
More than 80 people have died on Taranaki Maunga, second only to Aoraki/Mt Cook in terms of fatalities.
Prior to Tuesday’s double tragedy, the most recent death on the mountain was that of 22-yearold Morgan Ross Fraser in 2017.