Abbey Caves inquest: School staff member ‘certain’ heavy rain wouldn’t hit until after caving trip

A staff member says a fatal school caving trip went ahead despite an orange heavy rain warning because he was certain the rain would hit hours after the boys were due to leave the cave.

A coroner’s inquest is currently underway into the death of 15-year-old Karnin Petera, who died during a Whangārei Boys’ High School trip to Abbey Caves in May 2023.

Sixteen other boys and two adults managed to get out of the…