‘We’re totally devastated’: National MP posts emotional tribute after younger sister dies in quad bike accident

The younger sister of National MP Tim van de Molen has died after a farm accident earlier this week.

Katrina Houghton was fatally injured after rolling her quad bike near Piopio, van de Molen wrote, as he paid tribute to his sibling on Facebook.

“We’re totally devastated at the loss of an amazing and much-loved wife, daughter, mother, sister and aunty,” the Waikato MP said on Saturday afternoon.

“We’ve come together as a family to support each other as best we can – particularly wrapping support around Tom and their boys.

“Thanks to the friends and wider community who have chipped in to help us through these incredibly challenging first few days – it’s a fitting reflection of the caring and supportive person she was.”

Van de Molen has had his own brush with death after surviving a chainsaw accident in February 2022.

He was standing on scaffolding to cut branches when he fell from the platform, breaking both of his arms and sustaining spinal and rib fractures. He was hospitalised and underwent several surgeries.