Families Demand Mandatory Accountability After Coroner Finds Machinery Brakes Unsafe

Families and legal experts call for enforceable coroner recommendations after a "failed" braking system caused a fatal construction accident in New Zealand.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 4:57 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Fatal Failure of Cardan Shaft Systems

The inquiry centered on a January 2018 incident where a telehandler a heavy machine combining crane and forklift capabilities rolled over Graeme Rabbits while he was attaching a tow rope. The machine had been parked on a slope, but its cardan shaft parking brake failed to hold. Coroner Erin Woolley concluded that this specific braking system is fundamentally flawed, posing a significant risk when used on heavy machinery. Despite this, the system remains in use across tens of thousands of vehicles in New Zealand's construction and transport sectors.

NZTA Disputes "Inherently Unsafe" Classification

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has formally disagreed with the coroner’s assessment of the hardware. According to NZTA group manager Mike Hargreaves, the agency maintains that the braking system is safe provided it is correctly serviced, tested, and operated. Rather than a ban or an import halt, the NZTA is moving forward with a "practical and evidence-based" work program. This initiative includes the distribution of new warning labels featuring QR codes that link to safety documentation and the development of instructional videos for technicians.

Selwyn Rabbits, the victim’s father, has spent eight years conducting his own investigation into these braking systems. He expressed profound disillusionment with the NZTA’s stance, characterizing their refusal to acknowledge the inherent danger as "almost criminal." While the agency has organized free nationwide training workshops for workshop managers, it has stopped short of the import ban requested by safety advocates.

A Call for Enforceable Safety Recommendations