Fine for jet-boat trip in lockdown

‘‘Your offending shows a complete disregard for the law and the safety of your community, and demonstrates a sense of entitlement.’’ Judge Michael Turner

A Wānaka man who went jet-boating while New Zealand was in Covid-19 alert level 4 lockdown has been fined $500.

Ben Liam DeClifford, 22, a plumber from Lake Hawea, was one of seven men who went jet-boating on the Makarora River and Lake Wānaka on August 20 last year, three days after the country entered its second lockdown.

In Queenstown District Court yesterday, he admitted a charge of breaching the Covid-19 Public Health Response Order.

Through defence counsel Alice Milne he requested a discharge without a conviction but Judge Michael Turner declined the application.

The men had made a deliberate decision to break the rules, and the 40-kilometre drive to the Makarora boat ramp and 40km ride in two boats necessitated planning and premeditation, Judge Turner said.

‘‘Your offending shows a complete disregard for the law and the safety of your community, and demonstrates a sense of entitlement.’’

Five of the other offenders were granted discharges as they had previous clean records.

Martin Karl Nolan, 30, a forest worker of Dunedin, was sentenced to 60 hours of community work. His previous convictions were ‘‘more serious’’ than DeClifford’s, the judge said.

DeClifford, who had a drink-driving conviction from 2020, was convicted and fined. He had previously made a donation to New Zealand Land Search and Rescue.

Judge Turner said the seven men had joined together to live in a bubble over the lockdown period.

Also in Queenstown District Court yesterday was Jared Charles Shaw, an Australian who was accused of breaching Covid-19 restrictions by travelling from Auckland to Queenstown.

Shaw, 36, last year pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act. He allegedly travelled to Queenstown via Wellington on October 8. Defence counsel Michael Walker said police were considering whether Shaw would be eligible for diversion and it was anticipated a decision would be available in two weeks.

Walker said Shaw did not believe he had committed an offence as he had reasonable excuse to move at the time and had taken all reasonable steps to ensure he did not break rules.

He was remanded on bail until February 14, with the expectation that police will have made a decision by that date.

If diversion is declined, a defended hearing is scheduled for April 12.