The Department of Conservation has pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure the safety of a volunteer who died working on Raoul Island.
Mihai Muncus-Nagy, from Romania, is believed to have died on the isolated island on January 2.
The matter was called in Whangarei District Court yesterday, but Doc had earlier pleaded guilty and the matter was put off for sentencing in Auckland District Court on November 22.
It was heard in Whangarei because the city is the closest jurisdiction to Raoul Island - about 1100km northeast of Cape Reinga.
Mr Muncus-Nagy was taking water-temperature readings when he apparently got into trouble and was carried out to sea.
An extensive search was undertaken after the disappearance by Doc workers on the island and by the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre with a long-range helicopter. But they could not find any sign of the 33-year-old.
Doc acknowledged that it could have done more to prevent the tragedy.
Its deputy director general of operations, Sue Cosford, said at the time the department had clear procedures in place to identify hazards and provide safety training for all staff, including volunteers, working on the island.
However, she said the department acknowledged there were extra steps that it could have taken to improve safety for those working on Fishing Rock.
Doc had reviewed and strengthened its health and safety procedures on Raoul Island and had stopped manually measuring the sea temperature at Fishing Rock, she said.
If there was a resumption of manual temperature measurements, Doc would ensure additional safety measures were in place.
- Mike Dinsdale of The Northern Advocate
