He subsequently pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing injury, failing to stop for police, two charges for threatening language, possession of a knife, and possession of cannabis.
Judge Cathcart imposed nine months imprisonment but reduced it to four and a half months, due to the time Tahere had already served on remand in custody. The remaining term was converted to two and a half months home detention.
Police had gone to Tahere’s Wainui Road house about 2pm after reports he had earlier threatened to shoot someone he claimed owed him money.
He was out when police arrived. Another occupant showed officers to his room, where they saw and seized an airgun and about 100 grams of cannabis.
They were still at the house when Tahere arrived home and saw them. He didn’t get out of his car but reversed back on to Wainui Road and headed towards Kaiti Mall.
The police pursued him but he ignored their lights and siren and refused to stop, driving past their patrol car on Jackson Street behind the mall. He sped on to Craig Road and across the intersection with Rutene Road without giving way, and hit the oncoming car.
Police said Tahere was still yelling about the earlier incident as they were removing him from his car. He continued to threaten to shoot and kill the person involved. They found and seized a machete while checking Tahere’s vehicle.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge also imposed an 18-month driver disqualification.
Tahere was ordered to pay $2000 reparation to the injured driver. More had been sought to cover the injured driver’s ongoing medical costs and because his car was written off and uninsured. However, counsel Heather Vaughn said Tahere couldn’t afford to pay. He was already paying off a $45,000 debt to Work and Income NZ at $45 per week. He had offered to give the injured man a car to replace his but the offer was rejected.
In other submissions, Ms Vaughn said Tahere acknowledged his driving was reckless, albeit he had only driven that way for a short time.
While there had been no formal restorative justice conference, Tahere had apologised to the injured driver while they were both at hospital together. He hadn’t deliberately tried to hit the man’s vehicle but acknowledged he didn’t give way.
The dangerous driving charge carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment. Judge Cathcart said aggravating features of Tahere’s offence included his evasion of police and the serious injuries suffered by the victim.
In Tahere’s favour however, was his previously good driving record and his guilty plea.
For all the charges, the judge set an overall sentence starting point of 20 months imprisonment.
He gave Tahere 25 percent discount for his guilty plea, four months discount for time spent on electronically-monitored bail (he was on it for more than eight months), two months discount for personal circumstances, and a month for remorse.
The judge noted Tahere had an extensive criminal history dating back to 1977 and had been previously jailed. However, at 62 years old, he had medical problems including mobility issues and was waiting for surgery on both knees. He had been using marijuana for pain relief, which explained some of the offending.
