Kaimanawa horse hero killed on Tinui farm | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A Masterton man, who became known throughout New Zealand for his work with Kaimanawa wild horses, was killed yesterday in a farm accident.

Doug Leach, 63, died when his four-wheel-drive quad bike rolled down a bank at a farm at Tinui.

Mr Leach ran a popular horse trekking business from his Manaia Road property for many years and organised many treks for children during school holidays, often involving week-long camps.

He came to national prominence for his role in saving Kaimanawa horses when they were threatened with a cull in the central North Island.

Mr Leach brought several horses back to his Masterton property and set about breaking them in for use in his trekking business.

He broke in other Kaimanawa horses for other purchasers.

Mr Leach, was killed yesterday when his motorcycle rolled down a bank off a steep farm track.

He was thrown a short distance from the track.

Police said the accident happened just before 4pm and was witnessed by a co-worker who came to his assistance but was unable to revive the unconscious man.

Mr Leach was well known in the area as a "real salt-of-the-earth character".

A former horse-trekker described him as "a Crocodile Dundee of the Wairarapa".

Mr Leach is survived by his wife Takare and two children, Douglas and Jody.

Police said Mr Leach was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The law does not require farm workers to wear helmets on farms.

The accident follows a similar incident in July this year involving a quad motorbike when a man, 81, was seriously injured at Kahutara.

It is estimated there are 70,000 all terrain vehicles, which include quad bikes, in use on New Zealand farms and ACC and OSH have undertaken initiatives to persuade farmers to wear protective gear while operating them.

In 2003 two Wairarapa farmers, Bruce Cottrill and Roger Barton, started the Farmsafe programme to promote safety practices on farms, including the use of helmets.