Truck driver to stand trial for death of motorcyclist at Atiamuri

Taradale man Te Wanehi Wakefield was killed when his bike collided with a truck on State Highway 1 at Atiamuri. Photo / File

A truck driver will be tried for causing the death of a motorcyclist near Rotorua as well as several charges relating to breaching driving conditions.

Daniel William Raukawa Tauvaka, 41, a heavy truck/tanker driver from Auckland, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua on Wednesday, having previously pleaded not guilty to five charges.

The charges relate to a crash in January last year where motorcyclist Te Wanehi Wakefield, 56, from Taradale, was killed when his bike collided with Tauvaka's truck on State Highway 1 at Atiamuri.

Tauvaka is charged with manslaughter and an alternative charge of dangerous driving causing death.

He also faces four Land Transport Act charges including making a false statement in a logbook, failing to have 10 hours' rest and failing to deliver his logbook to his employer.

Crown prosecutor Andy Hill said he had had discussions with Tauvaka's lawyer, Louis Te Kani, and the trial, set down for November 19 for two weeks, would take only seven days.

Justice Sarah Katz remanded Tauvaka on bail to reappear for a callover on May 9.

The crash happened about 7pm on January 25, 2017, on State Highway 1 at Atiamuri between Tahu and Kemp Rds, northeast of Taupo.