On 28 April 1995, New Plymouth's Brois Street Reserve was the focus as the Engineers Union marked the first New Zealand Workers Memorial Day.
Seventeen olive trees were planted, each tree representing a worker killed on the job since 1990. The Reverend Albie Martin was present to help the families with the planting, commenting "Please do not turn this lovely park into a forest."
The planting was followed by the unveiling of a plaque bearing the names of the Taranaki workers who had been killed on the job since 1990. These were: Fraser Tuuta (34), Keith Cross (21), Christopher Smith (28), Alan Thompson (49) and Troy Penberth (24).
While the olive trees have flourished, the plaque is unable to be located.
New Zealand Workers Memorial Day is commemorated on 28 April each year.
Related items:
Union ceremony remembers those who died at work (Daily News 26 Apr 1995)
Trees Mark Workplace Deaths (Daily News 29 April 1995)
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