Road workers have been told not to work alone following an incident near Waimana in which a man allegedly drove a vehicle towards a construction manager after two people were caught stealing equipment and fuel.

Regional construction manager Billy Brown, pictured inset, said the incident happened at about 9.30am on Thursday, November 5, when he and three colleagues were carrying out a site inspection.

The group had finished a safety and productivity meeting at a private property before driving about 450 metres towards Gisborne, where a truck and trailer and loader were parked in a rest area.

As they approached, Brown noticed two men in hoodies removing items from the truck and trailer.

The men had several jerry cans with them and ran when the group approached.

Brown said one of the vehicles then drove directly towards him, forcing him to jump out of the way.

“It came within about two-to-three metres of me,” he said.

The incident left the team concerned about the safety of workers, particularly those who might be more vulnerable when working alone.

Brown said the vehicle had been travelling faster than the temporary 40kmh speed limit in place for the construction site.

He said the group had been fortunate to obtain a photograph of one of the vehicles, with police investigating.

The stolen items included some equipment and more than 80 litres of diesel.

Brown said the value of all the equipment at the site was significant, with the truck alone worth several hundred thousand dollars and the load of tools valued at about $80,000.

In response to Thursday’s incident, Brown said workers had been instructed not to work alone.

“There’s no way that we can have people working alone,” he said.

Workers must now operate in pairs, even for tasks such as moving a traffic cone or going to a nearby shop.

The change would increase labour costs for the project, but Brown said worker safety had to come first.

He said his concern was not only about the equipment and financial losses, but for the people responsible for maintaining the region’s road network.

His teams helped keep roads operating during major events and other situations, and he wanted to ensure the safety of those carrying out that work.

Brown acknowledged the police response, saying officers had been proactive in following up the incident.

He also called for continued support for police and stronger action against organised crime.

Brown, who stood for New Zealand First in the Rotorua electorate at last week’s general election, said it was important to distinguish gang activity from Māori culture.

He said gangs were criminal organisations and their actions should not be attributed to Māori or Māori culture.

Brown said he wanted to thank police for their response, which he described as faster than he had expected.

Police said they first received reports of an alleged fuel theft at a commercial property on State Highway 2 at approximately 10.30am on Thursday, November 5. No injuries were reported and police enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105, quoting reference number 261106/6867.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.