Coroner warns after arborist killed by stump grinder in Whangārei

Friday 21 August 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 21 Aug, 8:28am

In this story WorkSafe New Zealand

Arborist Kevin Barry died in April 2025 after his sleeve was caught by a stump grinder in Whangārei. A coroner has issued a warning to machinery operators to maintain safe exclusion zones following the investigation into the workplace accident.

How they headlined it

5am6:17am8:28am

1. NZ HeraldFri 21 Aug, 5:00am

   Whangārei stump grinder death: Kevin Barry pulled into spinning blade (opens in new tab)

2. StuffFri 21 Aug, 6:17am

   Experienced arborist killed after being pulled into stump grinder (opens in new tab)

3. 1News via RNZFri 21 Aug, 8:28am

   Coroner's warning about machinery after arborist caught on grinder (opens in new tab)