Mr Baker (26) died last year after Chinese tourist Limin Ma crossed the centre line on State Highway 1 and smashed into his motorcycle. The Baker family sought permission from NZTA to install a memorial seat and plaque and Mr Baker’s ashes. Roading contractor Downer agreed to the plans.
On Sunday, Mr Baker’s sister Sarah, took to Mr Kircher’s mayoral Facebook page and appealed for help after her family received a letter about the intended removal of the memorial.
A complaint from a member of the public was received by the council and passed on to the NZTA. That complaint mentioned four or five issues the person had with the area and included a "very small, one-line" reference to the memorial, Mr Kircher said.
Miss Baker said she had yet to hear the news officially from NZTA but Mr Kircher’s information was welcomed by her family.
"We’re all just relieved that we can have it and leave it there and get on with life."
An NZTA spokesman said yesterday NZTA representatives would meet Mr Baker’s family next week.
Miss Baker said before she got help from Mr Kircher she was told the seat could stay but the plaque would be returned to the family.
"They were going to leave the seat, but I don’t think it’s fair they could keep the seat that I paid for, but not the plaque. The whole reason we had the seat there was for the plaque."
She said the location for the memorial worked better for everyone in Mr Baker’s life than if it had been placed on private property.
"Oamaru was where he grew up and Dunedin was where he lived."
Miss Baker praised Mr Kircher for his help in dealing with NZTA and Downer.
She said she was yet to be told the grounds for complaint about the memorial.
