Rāhui placed on Lake Dunstan after death

A rāhui has been placed on a section of Lake Dunstan after a man died following a vehicle crash this week.

Family and friends of Cromwell man Mark Miller, 56, have met for a blessing at the site, under Deadman’s Point Bridge on SH8B.

Mr Miller, a civil construction worker, died when the ute and trailer he was driving left the road and entered the lake on Monday evening.

Ngāi Tahu kaumatua Darren Rewi says a rāhui has been placed on a stretch of the Mata-Au/Clutha River (which forms part of Lake Dunstan) for seven days.

The affected area is 500 metres either side of the bridge at the eastern entrance to the town.

Ngāi Tahu are asking visitors to the lake to not fish (gather food) or swim in this stretch of water.

The rāhui, which will be lifted on Monday (February 7), does not include the popular swimming area near the sports fields and playground on Alpha Street.

“Our condolences go out to the whānau of the deceased and all those affected by this tragedy,” says Mr Rewi.

The Police National Dive Squad recovered the body of Mr Miller from inside the submerged vehicle on Tuesday, when the ute and trailer were also retrieved from the lake by a local contractor.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.