Banks in tears at teen death inquest

Mayor John Banks (right) made a statement at the inquest into the death of teen James Webster (left). Photos / Supplied, NZPA

Auckland City Mayor John Banks has broken down in tears as he apologised for the actions of his son Alex, who encouraged alcohol-poisoning victim James Webster to drink.

Mr Banks sat in the witness box and made a personal statement at the Auckland Coroner's Court this afternoon.

He said if anything could be learned from the death of this "beautiful boy" it was that binge drinking was wrong.

"I'm here today to tell the Webster family we love them. Mr Webster could just as easily be giving evidence now and my son could be the deceased. This tragedy could strike any family."

Coroner Gordon Matenga had just heard from 17-year-old Alex Banks, who told of encouraging James Webster to drink because he thought it was "fun at the time".

Mr Banks said we "must teach our sons what's right". He said he had to accept responsibility for his son's actions. "That's what a father should do."

He told of giving up alcohol after watching his mother kill herself with a combination of methylated spirits and sherry.

At the end of his statement Mr Banks began crying and left the court quickly.

Kings College student James Webster died of alcohol poisoning on May 9 after drinking from a bottle of neat vodka at a party in Grey Lynn.

Last month, James' parents Charles and Penny Webster revealed on TVNZ's Close Up programme that only a handful of parents and students who were at the party had been in contact with them to give details about the night that their teenage son died.

Mrs Webster said the family had been told their son had been "egged on" to keep drinking by several young people at the party.

One of those people - who was pictured with her son on the night he died - was Alex Banks, 17-year-old son of Auckland mayor John Banks.

"The nature of the egging on - we're not sure - but one of [the students] was regretful afterwards," Mrs Webster said.

"He said: 'I wish I hadn't made him drink the vodka'."

That student was Alex Banks.

His father, Auckland Super City mayoral candidate John Banks, said he had grounded his son and got him to take a first aid course.

"I said to Alex, this is very sad for our families. And you're going to have to stay home and not go out at night until you've undertaken a comprehensive first aid course, so that you understand the dangers of alcohol.

"It's a huge thing for me to live with, but it's very, very painful for the Webster family," Mr Banks said.