Fertiliser company warned 80 times before worker death

Monday 1 September 2025 · 4 outlets · 2 reports · updated Mon 1 Sep 2025, 8:22am

In this story Ballance Agri-Nutrients

A major fertiliser company received 80 warnings in a single report regarding conveyor belt safety standards months before a fatality. Wesley Tomich died in July 2023 after falling onto a poorly guarded belt at the Ballance Agri-Nutrients plant in Mt Maunganui. A WorkSafe report has recently been released regarding the incident.

How they headlined it

8:03am

1. RNZMon 1 Sep 2025, 8:03am

   Eighty warnings to get workers out of 'danger zone' before worker's death (opens in new tab)

   Also on Stuff (opens in new tab), NZ Herald (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesMon 1 Sep 2025, 8:22am

   Company had 80 warnings before worker's death: report (opens in new tab)