Coroner Finds Mount Taranaki Boulder Death "Not Readily Preventable"; DOC Bolsters Warnings

Coroner Ian Telford finds the 2023 death of Christoph Heinrich Huelsmann on Taranaki Maunga was an "unpreventable" accident. DOC updates rockfall warnings.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 3:03 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Incident at 'The Lizard'

Christoph Heinrich Huelsmann, 57, was descending the mountain with his partner on April 23, 2023, after successfully reaching the summit. As they reached the scoria section of the track, a climber higher up on a rocky ridge known as "The Lizard" accidentally stepped on a one-metre-wide boulder. The rock dislodged and tumbled down the steep terrain toward Huelsmann. Despite attempts to run, he was struck in the back and fell 20 metres, sustaining fatal head injuries.

Environmental Volatility

Coroner Ian Telford’s report highlighted that Taranaki Maunga is a "very volatile environment" with high rates of erosion. In the months leading up to the accident, the ground had been severely destabilized by:

Heavy rainfall in early 2023.

Unseasonal early snowfall.