A coroner has had to delay some inquests in his joint forestry deaths inquiry because of court action.
The joint inquiry focuses on eight workers who died while working in forests in 2012 and 2013.
Coroner Wallace Bain has now heard evidence in two of the cases. A third inquest, into the death of David Beamsley in Kaingaroa Forest on 26 November 2013, began this morning.
Coroner Bain said he initially hoped to hear the cases in the first half of the year so the findings could be communicated to workers in the industry, to help avoid similar deaths.
But, after requests from family members, he has now adjourned two of the inquests until February 2015.
The family of Robert Epapara, who was killed in March 2013, can no longer attend the inquest while the family of David McMurtrie, who died 18 months ago, are to challenge a ruling that declined them leave to bring a private prosecution.
The families of another two of the men are taking private prosecutions.
Coroner Bain was unable to set a new date for these inquests and said the court cases would delay his ability to share findings with the industry.
He regretted the delay, he said, but understood the prosecutions had been instigated by the families of the deceased and they appreciated the delay that would occur as a result.
He said he wanted to progress the inquests as he intended to convene a hearing relating to all eight of the deaths, where he would call for expert comment from the industry.
Forestry is the country's most dangerous industry, with 32 people killed on the job since 2008.
