KEY POINTS:
A teenager whose high-speed drink-driving left his girlfriend in hospital is promising to drink and drive again.
Rae Rae, 16, has admitted drinking heavily before driving his Toyota early on Saturday in South Auckland.
He had three other teenaged passengers and during a police pursuit the car crashed into a lamp post and caught fire.
Anita Matangi was pulled injured from the car and remains in hospital.
"I would do it again but with no-one in the car besides me. I would drink and drive again with just me in the car," Rae told National Radio.
His younger sister was also injured in the crash.
Rae said he had been drinking alcohol including beer and pre-mixed drinks.
"Too much to drink for me to be behind the wheel."
His sister estimated Rae hit 180km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Another sister said Rae would not have learned his lesson and would be enjoying the publicity.
Alcohol watch groups and police have slammed the behaviour and that of family and friends who supply young teenagers with alcohol.
Rae's mother told National Radio she gave her son alcohol and would not be punishing him.
"Every time I told him not to drink too much but he don't listen. He ignore it," she said.
"I don't blame him because he was working hard. He needs something to relax."
Police said the incident would be investigated by the police complaints authority.
They have not so far said whether Rae is likely to face charges.
- NZPA
