A Far North man who took a car without permission and crashed into a road roller had drunk more than twice the legal limit before he died.
Rihara Nehe Kokiri, 20, suffered multiple injuries when he crashed on State Highway 10 near Kaeo early on July 15, 2008.
Coroner Sarn Herdson has found he died after consuming 193 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, more than twice the legal limit of 80mg per 100ml.
Mr Kokiri had put in a good day's work breaking in horses with Eric Albert, who he lived with in Kaeo, and another young man.
As a reward, Mr Albert bought them all some pre-mixed alcohol drinks, which they drank that evening until Mr Albert went to bed shortly before midnight.