A North Canterbury quarry site will remain closed while WorkSafe investigates how a man was trapped under tonnes of rock.

After an arduous week, the Hurunui community's reeling after the recovery of what's thought to be the body of Murray Taylor, which was buried on Monday.

Finally yesterday a team of over 50 experts reached the digger - formal identification will be completed tomorrow.

Inspector Corrie Parnell reports the investigation is ongoing.

"Effectively the quarry is no longer operational. It's subject to a prohibition order under that Health and Safety Act and at this stage will remain under their guard until such time going forward a decision is made with local authorities."

Hurunui District Council Mayor Winton Dalley admits it's been a horrific week for the family.

"Words can't describe the devastation for the family and the whole community really. The family have been a big part of this community for a number of years. Murray's a larger than life guy and clearly leaves a big hole in the community."

RESTRICTIONS NOT TOUGH ENOUGH

A Health and Safety consultant believes the death of a digger driver at a Canterbury quarry would never have happened under previous laws.

Fifty six-year-old Murray Taylor was buried underneath 1500-tonnes of rock after a landslide at the Waikari quarry.

Consultant, and former quarry worker Andrew Robertson argues the current laws are not tough enough.

"The old regulations, regulation 58, covered everything to do with that particular operation at Waikari, and that could never have happened under that legislation."

He says the industry has been calling for tougher laws for years.