Raurimu massacre touches many in Ruapehu

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 673, 11 February 1997, Page 1

Raurimu massacre touches many in Ruapehu

Raurimu' s massacre is Ruapehu 's tragedy which has touched the lives of many people in the district through those who were involved in dealing with the Saturday morning incident as well as some of the victims. Those killed in the shotgun massacre in the tiny

settlement were: Henk Van De Wetering, a 5 1 -year-old Raurimu resident. Neville Anderson, 60, builder from Kandallah in Wellington, and understood to be the father of the alleged gunman, Stephen Lawrence Anderson. Stephen Mark Hansen, 38, a bank teller from Newlands, Wellington..

Anthony Gordon McCarty, 63, an office manager from Kandallah in Wellington. Andrea Joy Brander, 62, Kandallah, Wellington. John Frederick Mathews, 28. Henk Van De Wetering had lived in Raurimu for about 15 years, working at the Grand Chateau as a maintenance manager, and at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre on maintenance. He was known as a kindhearted man who was often host to backpackers when

they had nowhere to stay, played Santa Claus at the Chateau, and helped out at OPC outside work hours. Protecting From early reports, if appears Mr Van De Wetering was protecting his daugh-ter-in-law from the gunman when he was shot. After the first five victims were shot in Raurimu Lodge, the gunman moved out to the main road. It is understood that it was here that the Van De Wetering. family became involved. From reports to the Bulletin, it seems that

Rodney Van De Wetering, a carpenter from Ohakune, approached the gunman but was shot in the face. His wife and two children were in their car, preparing to flee the situation. It is understood Mr Van De Wetering tried to draw the gunman away from his family. The gunman then returned to the road, where he confronted Rodney Van De Wetering' s wife, Kim. The Bulletin understands that it was then that Henk Van De Wetering was killed, possibly trying to

protect his daughter-in-law, and that the children witnessed the incident. Rod Van De Wetering is in Palmerston North hospital, suffering from shotgun pellet wounds to the face, around the eye. Kim was in Palmerston North yesterday, still suffering from shock. Other members of the family had come to the couple's home in Ohakune to be with Henk Van De Wetering' s wife, Helen. Rodney and his father had only recently completed their Southridge Drive,

Ohakune, home. Helicopter capture Other people known in the Waimarino involved included Mountain Air helicopter pilot Keith McKenzie who helped police locate and capture the gunman in bush near State Highway Four. This involved tracking the gunman across country, while detective sergeant Derek Webb from Taumarunui police, trained his rifle on the man from the door-less passenger' s side of the helicopter. Turn to Page 2

Locals involved at Raurimu

FROM PAGE 1 Mr McKenzie said he was concerned about safety during the incident when the man was amongst trees as they were unsure if he still had a weapon, but then they saw that he didn't. It was then that they stopped his progress by flying backwards and forwards in front of him. Mr McKenzie then brought the machine to within a metre of the gunman, as he lay on the ground, then Mr Webb jumped out and apprehended the man, who by then was naked. Raurimu nurse Anna Dawson was the subject of national media attention after she tended to Mr Van De Wetering as he lay dying, while gunfire carried on. She was one of fi ve people trapped for two hours on the highway while police secured the area. Another in the group was Raurimu resident Colin Parker. Raurimu resident Stephanie Latoa narrowly escaped the carnage, as she had walked up to the Spiral Hill lodges early on Saturday morning to visit her friends, the Van De Wetering family She said she thought there .

was trouble brewing when she left and minutes later the shots that marked the start of the massacre were heard by residents. Resident Gordon Stewart, a tour guide, was the first to call the police. He went to about 1 2 houses warning people of the danger. Local police Waimarino police involved in the incident were Rod Conway, Dave Grace and Stu Ngatai , who arrived on the scene about an hour after it started, to set up the northern boundary of the cordon, where a truck had been stopped and blocked the highway. Mr Ngatai said the hectic situation was "pretty tense" as the information they had was that the gunman was moving towards them and that he was carrying a highpowered rifle. This turned out not to be the case. 'There were lots of people coming out with conflicting stories," he said. As well as maintaining the cordon, they helped people in the area to get out, including a group of people with an injured man who were just inside the area. Many of the others came out by car, so their work

involved searching vehicles in case one contained the gunman. Once the Armed Offenders Squad arrived the situation settled down, said Mr Ngatai. The officers, joined by more Waimarino and Waiouru policemen, were then involved with continuing to man the cordon, until about 8pm. Waimarino ambulance staff Sheila Buck and Sarah Smith attended the incident, and the Bulletin understands Waiouru ambulance staff also attended. Detective Inspector Peter Smith from' Wanganui is heading the investigation into the deaths, while acting district commander Inspector Geoff Holloway from Taumarunui, who is the area controller, has overall responsibility for the crime scene.