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Chris McKeen
Amo Kalati died after being crushed by a container last Sunday.
A father of seven who was crushed to death under a dumpster is remembered for his “big smile and an even bigger heart.”
Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati, a longshoreman who is believed to have only worked for Auckland ports for a couple of months, died last Sunday on a ship at the Fergusson container terminal.
The death of the 31-year-old is being investigated by Maritime NZ and the police.
A week after his death, Ports of Auckland released a statement on its Facebook page saying it was “absolutely devastated” by the death.
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The post says her love and prayers go out to Kalati’s family, whom they provide ongoing support.
“We are a great whānau here in the port, so everyone is deeply affected by what has happened.”
Advice has been offered to affected personnel, the publication says.
“As an organization, we care deeply about the safety and well-being of our people. In recent years, a great effort has been made to make the port a safer place to work, which makes this event even more painful ”.
Stuff.co.nz
Current and former staff have raised concerns about safety.
The Marist Saints Rugby League club also posted a tribute on its Facebook page extending the club’s condolences to the Kalati family.
“Master was first and foremost a devoted family man. We will really miss his cheeky sense of humor, big smile, and even bigger heart. “
Kalati represented Marist at the premier level at the 2013 Fox Memorial and was involved in his oldest son’s team.
The father also ran an “amazing homework club” for the international youth grades of the Marist Saints, as well as coaching his youngest son’s team.
Kalati’s family has declined to comment at this stage.
Earlier this week, current and former Ports of Auckland staff made remarks about the organization’s handling of Kalati’s death and concerns about safety.
A current worker at the port, whom Stuff agreed not to name, claimed that staff who arrived at the terminal near where the man on the ship died were told to continue working, just five hours after the incident.
The jetty said it felt this was the “latest disrespect” to the family of its deceased colleague from continuing to work while the crushed body still lay on the boat.
“For me it is tapu. It’s sacred and just bad luck. “
Former wharfie Saul Parks also said Stuff narrowly avoided the same fate as Kalati.
A Ports of Auckland spokesperson previously said that at no point were staff ordered to continue working after the incident or were they expected to continue against their wishes.
But he has apologized for something that was told to staff the morning after the incident, which one worker said included a comparison to how police continued to work after the recent death of a police officer.
Kalati’s wife’s brother has created a Givealittle page to support the family.
