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A drunk driver who stole a hearse did not get far before police caught and arrested him, on his way to check out the local fishing conditions.
The man had been attending a tangi at the Hinekura Marae at Rotoiti when he allegedly stole the blue Ford Forte about 4.45pm on Wednesday - taking a case of beer with him on the trip.
There was no dead body on board at the time.
Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said the funeral directors gave chase in pursuit of their hearse, valued at about $20,000, but eventually lost track of the vehicle and contacted police.
The Rotorua man had the case of beer with him in the hearse when he was stopped by police just south of Paengaroa about 5.10pm.
"He said he was wanting to go for a ride to Maketu to check out the sea conditions before going fishing," said Mr Campion.
The man had allegedly been drinking at the tangi all day and was described by Senior Sergeant Deirdre Lack as "intoxicated" on his arrest.
A 46-year-old sickness beneficiary was to appear in the Tauranga District Court charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
