Media Release
18 March 2016

Charges laid over Hamilton zookeeper death

WorkSafe New Zealand is prosecuting the Hamilton City Council over the death of a Hamilton zookeeper on 20 September 2015.

The charge alleges the Council breached Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 by failing to take all practical steps to ensure zookeeper Samantha Kudeweh was not exposed to hazards arising out of working with the Sumatran Tiger “Oz” in her place of work.

The charge carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The charge was filed in the Hamilton District Court [today]. A date for a first appearance has not yet been set.

Now that a legal process is underway, WorkSafe is unable to make any further comment.

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