Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
Member of Parliament for Northland
20 AUGUST 2016

Quashing of Foreign Driver’s Sentence Appalling

New Zealand First is appalled the jail term of a foreign driver who caused the death of motorcyclist Rhys Middleton on State Highway 5 near Eskdale has been quashed by the High Court.

“The fact the driver, who pleaded guilty, sought to appeal the sentence to the High Court is evidence she does not think the consequences of the offence are serious,” said New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“She caused the death of a young New Zealand man and his family has every right to feel aggrieved that she has neglected to take this into account before going ahead with an appeal.”

The original sentence of 17 months jail on the dangerous driving charge has been replaced with nine months home detention and 150 hours community work.

“Jieling Xiao, who was in New Zealand on a work visa, should have served her time and contemplated why she ever decided to go out on the open road,” Mr Peters said.

“Exactly what message does this send to foreign drivers about their need to properly prepare before they drive on New Zealand roads. On the basis of this High Court decision clearly the message is, ‘offend and expect to get rapped over the wrists with a wet bus ticket’.

A police summary of facts to the Napier District Court said Xiao had been entitled to drive for a 12-month period from the date she arrived in New Zealand, but she had never driven on an open road at speeds of more than 50kmh, "and by her own admission was not a confident driver". She had bought the car only a week before the crash.

ENDS

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