Key Takeaways
- Helen Verry, a beloved youth pastor, died on 30 January 2022 when a roller door at Church Unlimited fell on her.
- Her husband, Verry, is using the coronial inquest to determine why the door was not maintained and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
- He argues that the church’s professed core values—“people are our passion” and “excellence is our standard”—contradict its lack of health‑and‑safety action.
- Evidence shows the roller door had been malfunctioning for weeks before the incident and had never been serviced or identified as a hazard.
- The inquest, which will run until early June, involves WorkSafe NZ, Church Unlimited, and the door installer Scotty Doors, and aims to prevent similar deaths.
Introduction to the Inquest and Verry’s Motivation
Verry attended the coronial inquest into his wife Helen’s death, seeking answers about why she died while working at Church Unlimited in 2022. He expressed frustration that the church’s stated values—“people are our passion” and “excellence is our standard”—were not reflected in the maintenance or safety checks of the roller door that caused her fatal injury. Verry described one of his prayers as “that no stone be left unturned,” emphasizing his desire for a thorough investigation that would establish the cause of death and determine whether the tragedy could have been avoided.
Helen Verry’s Personal Background and Character
Verry painted a vivid picture of Helen’s early life, noting she was the baby of the family and her mother’s favourite. Her upbringing fostered a strong, independent, and confident personality, and she cherished her family, especially her mother, siblings, and more than fifty nieces and nephews. As the younger sister of All Black legend Va’aiga “Inga the winger” Tuigamala—who passed away a month after her—Helen carried a legacy of resilience and warmth. Verry recalled her as “full of life” with a “huge heart” and an infectious energy that touched everyone she met.
Relationship Milestones and Family Aspirations
The couple began dating in 2013, married two years later, and bought their first home in 2020. The following year Helen suffered a miscarriage, a loss that Verry said left her unable to conceive again before her death. Their shared plans and goals as a couple were abruptly “ripped away” when Helen died, leaving Verry to grapple with the future they had envisioned together.
Helen’s Work as a Youth Pastor
In her role as a youth pastor, Helen demonstrated unwavering commitment. She stayed with young people when they were unwell in the hospital, spent countless hours on the phone listening to their struggles, and often served as the only person in their lives who truly believed in them. Verry emphasized that her heart for youth in the community was profound, describing her as a beacon of hope and support for many.
Community Impact and Memorials
Since Helen’s passing, two members of her whānau have named babies after her, and the livestream of her funeral attracted more than 75,000 views, indicating the breadth of her influence. Verry noted that her reach extended far beyond those numbers, as countless individuals continued to feel her impact through the ministries and relationships she nurtured.
The Day of the Accident: Helen’s Final Moments
On Sunday, 30 January 2022—a regular workday for Helen—she was in a multipurpose space at the Glendene, West Auckland church that could be partitioned by a roller door. Verry recalled moving the door up and down many times before using the switch. He attended the morning service, then went to say goodbye to Helen, who was smiling and full of joy as she chatted with friends. After he left for home, he received urgent calls to return to the church because the roller door had fallen on her.
Immediate Aftermath and Verry’s Experience
Arriving at the scene, Verry found emergency personnel already present, with black curtains shielding Helen’s body while paramedics worked. Blood was emanating from her ears, the back of her head, and her mouth. He held her hand, reassuring her that help was on the way, but she did not respond; the heart monitor showed a faint pulse that ceased only a couple of minutes later. Overwhelmed with grief, Verry broke down, felt numb, and barely slept that night, repeatedly questioning why Helen had been in that location at that moment.
Alleged Health and Safety Failures at Church Unlimited
Verry’s brother‑in‑law informed him that, in the weeks preceding the accident, the roller door had been malfunctioning. Verry questioned why Church Unlimited’s CEO, Tak Bhana, had not issued a formal statement about Helen’s death despite being actively involved in the church. He raised pointed questions: why had the door never been serviced or maintained since its installation in 2009? Why had it not been identified as a hazard? What health‑and‑safety plan existed at the time of Helen’s death? Verry asserted that little had changed in the church’s safety protocols four and a half years later, with new measures still being implemented.
Verry’s Critique of Church Core Values and Ongoing Issues
Highlighting the disconnect between rhetoric and practice, Verry argued that the incident violated two of Church Unlimited’s eight core values. If “people are our passion” and “excellence is our standard” truly guided the organization, he contended, health and safety would be taken seriously and systematically addressed. He lamented that, despite the passage of time, the church had not yet substantively improved its safety culture, leaving the values appearing hollow in practice.
Ongoing Inquest Proceedings and Parties Involved
The inquest continued in the afternoon with testimony from Church Unlimited’s musical director, Adrian Robertson, who believed he was the last person to operate the roller door before Helen’s death. Scheduled to run until the first week of June, the hearing will hear from six additional witnesses. Parties involved include WorkSafe NZ, Church Unlimited, and SDL (formerly Scotty Doors), the company that installed the roller door in 2009 and was later ordered to pay over $200,000 following Verry’s death.
Conclusion: Significance of the Inquest and Next Steps
Verry’s pursuit of answers through the coronial inquest serves both a personal and a public purpose. By scrutinizing the maintenance lapses and safety oversights that led to Helen’s tragic death, the process aims to uncover systemic failures and prevent similar incidents in other faith‑based or community organizations. The outcome will not only provide closure for Verry and Helen’s family but may also prompt stricter health‑and‑safety standards across churches and similar venues, ensuring that the professed values of passion and excellence are matched by concrete protective actions.