TTM Detour Incidents
R Newton made this Official Information request to WorkSafe New Zealand
Response to this request is long overdue. By law WorkSafe New Zealand should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: R Newton
Dear WorkSafe New Zealand,
I am writing under the Official Information Act to request information regarding WorkSafe’s expectations and records related to fatal road crashes occurring on detour routes. Specifically, I would like to know:
1) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal road crashes that occur on official detour routes where a road closure was planned?
2) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal crashes on official detour routes where a road closure was unplanned, such as following an emergency incident?
3) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal crashes on wider detour routes that are not part of the official signed detour, but are commonly used during planned road closures? For example, as referenced in the ACE NZ article: https://www.acenz.org.nz/new_changes_for...
4) How many fatal road crashes on road detour routes were notified to WorkSafe during the 2024/25 financial year?
Yours faithfully,
Ms R Newton
From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand
Tçnâ koe
Thank you for your Official Information Act request received by WorkSafe New Zealand on 21 May 2025.
WorkSafe New Zealand will respond to your request under the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Please contact [email address] if you have any questions.
Ministerial Services
8 Willis Street
Wellington
W worksafe.govt.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: R Newton <[FOI #31052 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 21 May 2025 1:53 pm
To: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - TTM Detour Incidents
[You don't often get email from [FOI #31052 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear WorkSafe New Zealand,
I am writing under the Official Information Act to request information regarding WorkSafe’s expectations and records related to fatal road crashes occurring on detour routes. Specifically, I would like to know:
1) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal road crashes that occur on official detour routes where a road closure was planned?
2) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal crashes on official detour routes where a road closure was unplanned, such as following an emergency incident?
3) Does WorkSafe expect to be notified of fatal crashes on wider detour routes that are not part of the official signed detour, but are commonly used during planned road closures? For example, as referenced in the ACE NZ article: https://www.acenz.org.nz/new_changes_for...
4) How many fatal road crashes on road detour routes were notified to WorkSafe during the 2024/25 financial year?
Yours faithfully,
Ms R Newton
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From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand
Kia ora Ms Newton
Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act
request.
Ministerial Services
8 Willis Street
Wellington
W [1]worksafe.govt.nz
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[6]WSNZ_2769-Maori-email-sign-off-with-twitter-v1-2
[7]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services
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Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of
WorkSafe New Zealand. This message and any files transmitted with it are
confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are
not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivery to the
intended recipient, be advised that you have received this message in
error and that any use is strictly prohibited. Please contact the sender
and delete the message and any attachment from your computer.
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From: R Newton
Dear Ministerial Services – WorkSafe,
If I have understood your reply correctly you would expect a fatal crash on a detour, where the detour is caused by a contractor's works, to be notified by the PCBU carrying out the works? Or you would expect, through your memorandum with the Police, that the Police would notify you of a fatal crash on a detour, where the detour is caused by a contractor's works, if it involved a commercial vehicle?
You stated that there are no files involving fatalities related to car crashes on Detour routes have been found for the 2024/25 year - Are you aware that there were in fact several fatal crashes that occurred on detour routes last financial year? This is a link to a news article of just one of these incidents:
https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3...
As these notifiable events appear to be going unreported is WorkSafe being proactive to ensure contractors and clients know these should be notified?
Yours sincerely,
R Newton
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