A coronial inquest into the unexpected death of Golden Shears legend Koropiko Mullins has started.
Ministry of Justice said the inquest began on Monday and was set down for two weeks.
Shearing Sports New Zealand said Mullins died suddenly on September 16, 2019, aged 65.
His death prompted hundreds of social media tributes from across the world.
The Times-Age reported that he was one of the “voices of shearing”, according to Welsh commentator Huw Condron, who had first met Mullins while shearing in New Zealand in 2002 and 2003.
Aria Mullins said her dad thought he didn’t have many friends, such was the way he delivered his popular shearing competition commentaries.
But a funeral director convinced the whanau “it might be a different story”, and the decision was made to move his funeral to the Dannevirke town hall.
Mullins served nine years as an elected member of the Tararua District Council.
The tragedy led to a decision by son Punga Mullins to not seek a place on the council at the upcoming local elections.
“Due to heartbreaking circumstances, I will be withdrawing my candidacy from this year’s local government elections,” he said.
“Dad is my biggest support, a mentor who guided, inspired and challenged me every day to be the best I can be.”
Koro Mullins met his wife, Mavis Mullins, a leading businesswoman, while he was working as a presser for her father and brothers.
Mullins came 6th place in the 1993 Golden Shears Open shearing championship in Masterton.
In the same year, Mavis won the second of her two Golden Shears Open woolhandling titles, the couple being followed into competition triumph by Aria, a New Zealand Shears Senior woolhandling champion.
The family has been best known for its shearing operation, which at peak employed over 100 staff.
Condron said Mullins became a mentor, and they shared an interest in getting to know the competitors and ensuring that for each of them, the pronunciation of names both Maori and Welsh was broadcast with accuracy and respect.
The chairman of Shearing Sports New Zealand, the now Sir David Fagan, said the shearing world was “rocked” by news of Mullins’ death.
He said Mullins’ involvement and commitment were to the fullest in every way.
Inquest into Mullins’ death under way
