Men appear in court over fatal boating accident

Lake Ohakuri. Photo / Supplied

Two men charged in connection with a fatal collision on Lake Ohakuri, southwest of Rotorua, earlier this year have appeared in court for the first time.

The men were granted interim name suppression when they made a brief appearance before a registrar at the Rotorua District Court today. They did not enter a plea.

The men, a 44-year-old Rotorua man and a 35-year-old Taupo resident, have been charged with an offence against Section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994. This section of the Act deals with the use of any vessel in a manner so as to cause unnecessary danger to any person or to property.

The charge relates to an incident on January 2 when Andrew Edward Wroe was killed on Lake Ohakuri, southwest of Rotorua, after a collision between a boat and a ski biscuit.

The 36-year-old was a passenger on the ski biscuit while another person suffered superficial injuries.

At the end of the investigation, conducted by the Rotorua police assisted by Maritime New Zealand and Waikato Regional Council harbour masters, the case was referred to the legal section at Police National Headquarters. This was to allow for a legal opinion to be obtained as to the criminal liability of those involved, and what, if any, charges should be laid.

The two men were drivers of the two boats.

The men have been remanded at large to reappear in court at 9am on July 23. Lawyer Max Simpkins appeared for the men on behalf of their lawyers and asked that interim name suppression continue until the next appearance, which was granted.