RIP Helen Bain
Stuff reports:
A 38-year-old woman has died after being swept away riding a horse across the Ruamahanga River in the Wairarapa this afternoon, while a man died suddenly at Lake Taupo and another drowned at Northland’s Ninety Mile Beach after trying to rescue his grandchildren today.
The woman was riding with a friend near Matapihi Road, about 5km north of Masterton, at 2pm when she attempted to cross the swollen river, Masterton police said.
The horse fell and the woman was swept away.
Her riding companion tried to help her and then sought help from a nearby friend.
The friend searched and found the woman downstream.
She was taken onto land but could not be revived.
A friend texted me with the name of the person who drowned, as we both knew her from our days working at Parliament. I can’t say more until the Police name her, but am very saddened by such an early and tragic death. She was a vibrant irreverent sort, who will be missed by many who knew her. My thoughts go out to her family, close friends and colleagues.
I’ll say more once the Police release the name officially.
UPDATE: They have now named Helen Bain.
I met Helen around 15 years when I started at Parliament. She worked for the then Dominion and had a wonderful irreverent wit. She won several Qantas Awards and I recall former Editor Richard Long often referring to her as one of the most talented journalists he had hired.
Helen spent a couple of years working for John Tamihere as his press secretary. She had hilarious stories from that period, as Tamihere was always getting into trouble.
Helen did a brief spell as the Sunday Star-Times political editor and also was a motoring writer for a while. I recall hassling her once about having to write a story about riding the 11 pm bus with the hoodies 
For the last four years or so she was Comms Manager for the Forest and Bird Society. If people ever wondered why I often ran promotions or free ads for them, despite disagreeing with them on some issues – the answer is Helen would inveigle me into it. Never could say no to her!
Any death at 38 is far too young. Helen especially though was full of life, and her loss will be felt keenly. The only commiseration is that she died doing something she loved – horse riding.
Again my thoughts are with her family, colleagues and close friends.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Yes it has been tragic, although only two have died on the roads and the tragic deaths that you have mentioned above its quite a sad week. I also feel 4 the 140 dolphins that were stranded and sunburned to death very sad. Peace to you at this time of mourning.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
My condolences to you, who knew her. I experienced that once – someone with whom I had worked (with whom many had worked) and had hoped to work more, vibrant, hard working, full of ideas. I remember the shock on hearing the news. And as in this case, taken by a swollen river. An experienced person who knew what she was doing, but got caught out by a river rising much faster than anticipated.
In our case we started a scholarship in her honour. I hope your acquaintance can be similarly remembered.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:31 am
A sad way for her family to commence the New Year. My Condolences to them, and all who may lose their loved ones in such unforseen and tragic circumstances… Let’s be careful out there. . .
December 30th, 2009 at 8:08 am
[deleted by DPF]
December 30th, 2009 at 8:31 am
[deleted by DPF a responding to a deleted comment]
December 30th, 2009 at 8:37 am
[deleted by DPF. This is not an appropriate thread for those comments. Demerits in future. This is an RIP thread not a moral superiority thread]
December 30th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Job 14
December 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
My sympathies for the loss of this gal; always disappointing when someone you know expires in tragic circumstances (and there has been quite a lot of that this year, alas)
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
December 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Andrei 9:29 am,
Indeed.
That Job was a wise man – and the questions and observations he put forward are something all of us should ponder.
Our days are indeed short on this earth, and these untimely deaths (although God knew) remind us that we know not when our time on this earth will come to an end.
James has similar sentiments to Job:
Our lives are indeed in the hands of our Creator.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:57 am
To everything there is a reason
And a time to every purpose
A time to learn, a time to grieve
A time to stay, a time to leave
A time deserving to hold dear, a time remembering to care
To everything, there is a season
(Turn, Turn, Turn)
December 30th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Robin Louise Bain named in The Herald at 9.56am.
May she RIP
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10617841
December 30th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Pete George 9:57 am,
I know it’s a song, Pete, but I trust you realise it is a paraphrase of Ecclesiastes?
(I’m sure you do)
December 30th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Apologies…Helen Louise Bain
December 30th, 2009 at 11:49 am
We will all miss her. Smart, funny, not afraid to take on massive challenges and a real ability to twist arms.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Aged 38 is in the fullness of life.
My commiserations to all her family and close friends who need comforting right now.
December 30th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
If we’re going to quote people at such a time, I much prefer to quote someone who is relevant to the modern world…no-one says it better:
I’ve used hammers made out of wood
I have played games with pieces and rules
I undeciphered tricks at the bar
But now you’re gone, I haven’t figured out why
I’ve come up with riddles and jokes about war
I’ve figured out numbers and what they’re for
I’ve understood feelings and I’ve understood words
But how could you be taken away?
And wherever you’ve gone
And wherever we might go
It don’t seem fair… Today just disappeared
Your light’s reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars
With heavy breath, awakened regrets
Back pages and days alone that could have been spent, together…
But we were miles apart
Every inch between us becomes light years now
No time to be void or save up on life
You got to spend it all…
And wherever you’ve gone
And wherever we might go
It don’t seem fair… You seem to like it here
Your light’s reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars
And wherever you’ve gone
And wherever we might go
It don’t seem fair… Today just disappeared
Your light’s reflected now, reflected from afar
We were but stones, your light made us stars
December 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
who gives neg karma on an eulogy?
December 30th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Very sad to hear about Helen. I worked with Forest and Bird for several years in my previous incarnation and worked with Helen a bit. I was very impressed with her and pleased when Forest and Bird employed her. Such a loss. My thoughts to her family. Clare
December 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I can only agree MikeNZ. It does make one wonder …
December 30th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I’m aghast. Helen was one of those journalists who “got it”. She was in the Gallery when I was doing political comms (and bear in mind she was only in her 20s at that time) and I knew I could hand her a press release and rarely need to spend time talking her through it… she could put all the pieces together in her head and produce a comprehensive and balanced story.
Which is not to say she never asked questions – quite the opposite. But rather than asking me to explain the background and the ramifications so she could write up my comments as her own work (a technique perfected by more than a few of her colleagues outside the Gallery, though of course I wasn’t complaining) Helen was one of those whose questions would question the underlying assumptions and intelligently project the outcomes of what you were proposing. In short, she was someone you respected.
At the same time she was also one of the nicest people I’ve met… unfailingly cheerful but not in an annoying way (that’s badly put, but I can’t think of a better way of expressing it right now). So despite the fact that part of my brain was going “Uh oh” when I heard “Helen Bain here…” on picking up the phone, another part was going “Yay, a chance to chat with Helen”.
Such was her ability as a journalist I always felt she shouldn’t have gone into PR (though she was brilliant at that too) simply because there are so few writers of her insight writing about NZ.
I haven’t spoken to Helen in many years, simply because our paths mever crossed professionally. Although she received many well-deserved accolades it’s a source of intense personal regret that I never had the opportunity to tell her what a fine journalist and person she was.
December 30th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This is a RIP thread, so the Red Rag come over and use Kiwiblog to get their name mentioned and get a little sympathy for their kind comments.
Pity so many Kiwibloggers are banned from the Red Rag huh Trev and Clare
December 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Wow, neg karma from Trev, Clare, Mickey, Pete and and some unknown reader that just hits the red hand.
Now I may not have known Helen Bain, but seems some of you did and make political gain, or try to.
When does the average blogger get to have a say on Red Rag Mr Mallard?
December 30th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Steve: Shut the fuck up.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:45 am
Out of order, I appologise
[DPF: Thanks.]
December 31st, 2009 at 9:54 am
As a Forest and Bird member we join with all in acknowledging the huge loss
we all feel. Special thoughts go out to family and friends.
I did not always agree with Helen’s stance on issues, but to disagree meant you had to be well
prepared with your case. Her commitment to whatever she believed in was legend.
December 31st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I was lucky enough to know Helen as my wisest and best friend. Her judgement, integrity, empathy and kindness … wonderful with children, animals, family and friends. Once she made her mind up, that was it. How lucky was I, and how lucky was her partner, that we were at the top of her list. I don’t have the words to describe the past two days. RIP Helen, just as you lived. Caren.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I was at Victoria University with Helen. We completed many undergraduate English Literature papers together, – she was a great person to hang out with. Once she read a novel it was like she knew the character. Over the years I’ve followed Helen’s writing in newspapers with pride and amazement how she managed to be witty, serious all while getting a story across. My deepest sympathy to her partner, family and friends. RIP Helen
January 1st, 2010 at 5:33 pm
i don’t know whats wrong with some of you people. helen was a great person who lost her life at an early age. she was a great endurance and competitive trail rider and a very active member of the wairarapa endurance club. the day of the accident the river may have been up more than usual but it was more dirty than anything else. she certainly doesn’t deserve some of the comments that have been put on this sight. her partner and family certainly don’t need it. RIP Helen we will all miss you at the club.
January 3rd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I worked with her in the press gallery, and agree she was a brilliant writer, very funny in print and person and also very stylish. She always looked immaculate. She was a great party girl too, and an excellent host and guest. She regularly stayed at our place in the city after parties. I was in shock, along with many of Wellington’s former and current journos when I heard about her death. Wish I could go to her funeral.
Thanks for putting up this opportunity to write something about her, David. There’s lots on Facebook too.