By Tom McRae
The publican in a small Hawke’s Bay settlement where four men died early yesterday has spoken out over suggestions she served them too much alcohol before they drove to their deaths.
Tania Butcher says if her patrons are ever too drunk she'll drive them home herself.
The farmhands died at Putorino, north of Napier, four of seven deaths this holiday weekend.
Tania Butcher says she's a responsible host and never lets her patrons drive if they've had too much.
“You build up a good rapport with the community and it is disheartening to think you might not see them again,” she says. “So you put it in action that you're going to make sure they're all safe. They're important. They all play their role in the community as much as myself.”
Four locals ended up dead on Sunday morning after their car rolled just a few kilometres from their home. Police say alcohol was a major factor in the crash.
Ms Butcher says they weren't drunk when they left the pub at 7pm.
“They came in and just purchased a drink each and had a bit of a chat. Boydie, one of the chaps who passed away, him and I had a bit of a talk and I have an off-license as well. So they did purchase two boxes of 24s and they left and they were fine.”
Police named the four men as Lou Phillip Wesley, 47, Paul Thomas Parata (known as Boydie), 48, James Raupita, 42, and Jack Huata, 64.
They all worked and lived on a sheep station. They drove the road they died on every day.
“Jack was very good on the guitar,” says Ms Butcher. “Beautiful, beautiful natured person. Boydie and Jack never went anywhere without one another – great mates.”
There was a similar crash in January, where four men from the same sheep station died. Alcohol was blamed then too.
“They'll get a lot more proactive now,” says Ms Butcher. “It's not nice losing a family member – not at all.”
But that's the reality for another four families who are trying to come to grips with an accident that could have so easily been avoided.
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