Small farming company Greystone Holdings Limited was sentenced today in Wellington District Court after an incident that occurred in July 2016, when a six year old was visiting the 60 acre farm owned by his grandparents during school holidays.

The victim was riding on the back of a quad doing tasks on the farm, when he fell from the quad and was run over by equipment being towed behind it. The quad was being driven by the boy’s uncle who was employed on the property. The victim was taken to hospital by helicopter and had suffered a fracture to his left leg that required multiple surgeries.

WorkSafe Deputy General Manager, Investigations and Specialist Services, Simon Humphries says that whether you own a small holding or a high country station, kids do not belong on adult sized quad bikes, as riders or passengers.

“It might look like fun and a way to keep the kids amused but the risk of death or injury needs to outweigh the entertainment factor. There is little contest between a quad and a child. These are heavy and powerful machines that require the rider’s full attention. A child does not have the physical strength or risk recognition to be an independent passenger, especially on a vehicle that is not designed for carrying extra people.”

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