Guilty of breaking lockdown rules

A Christchurch man who decided to self-isolate in his vehicle has been fined $1000 after breaking the country’s lockdown restrictions.

Fraser Wright Maddigan, 44, was fined $1000 and ordered to pay $130 court costs and told to make plans to get his car in Te Anau after he appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

He had been told by police to abide by Government restrictions during the state of emergency and was found to have travelled outside of his living area on April 1 in Te Anau.

Judge Bernadette Farnan said: ‘‘It’s clear you took a belligerent attitude to police.’’

Defence lawyer David Slater said when Maddigan was spoken to by police for a third time in three days, driving on the Te Anau-milford Highway on Wednesday morning, he was heading back to Christchurch.

On Monday, Maddigan left Christchurch after things became a bit ‘‘fraught’’ at home, Slater said.

‘‘So he hit upon the idea of isolating himself in his vehicle.’’

Queenstown police gave him an ‘‘educational’’ directive about the lockdown restrictions and told him to go home, Slater said.

The officer spoke to Maddigan ‘‘in close proximity’’ without any protective barrier, Slater said.

Judge Farnan asked if Maddigan had disregarded police and decided he was the only person in New Zealand who got to choose where to live during the lockdown.

Slater said Maddigan heard on the radio about a group of tourists who were allowed to travel to get closer to an airport, and decided to carry on to Te Anau where he had done some pest control work.

In Te Anau on Tuesday night police again told him to go home. Because this was about 8.30pm, Maddigan decided it would be unsafe to drive to Christchurch that night, so he continued to selfisolate in his Honda Civic.

Maddigan had food in the car, paid for petrol with Paywave and took all necessary precautions when grocery shopping in Queenstown, Slater said.

On Wednesday morning, Te Anau police saw Maddigan and pulled him over and he was arrested.

Approached outside of court by Stuff, Maddigan said: ‘‘I was just living my life . . . living in the mountains is the epitome of selfisolation . . . I’ve got two homes; the mountains are my home and home (Christchurch) is home.

‘‘I suppose I am a little bit naughty.’’

Maddigan then began walking from the Invercargill District Court to the Don St police station.

His car and credit cards were in Te Anau, he said.

‘‘I have to somehow get to Te Anau and then drive home. The police must be able to take me back, it’s against human rights.’’

If he had his time again, he would not have left Christchurch.

Outside of court, Maddigan laughed when he was told he was one of the first people charged for breaking the lockdown.

‘‘I’m famous,’’ he said.