Dunedin District Court

A TEACHER for sentence on his fourth drinkdrive conviction had done good things since his last such conviction in 2008, but he had really let himself down by reoffending three months ago. The only thing saving him from a sentence starting point of imprisonment was the nineyear gap, Judge Michael Crosbie said.

Mac Warahi Te Ngahue (44), of Dunedin, had admitted driving with a breathalcohol level of 709mcg, and carelessly, on April 26.

Driving in Royal Tce about 5.45pm, Te Ngahue struck the rear of a stationary vehicle at the intersection with London St.

There was minor damage to both vehicles.

Reparation amounted to

$1941.89.

Counsel Rhona Daysh said because of his own actions Te Ngahue’s career as a teacher was now hanging in the balance.

‘‘There is a high likelihood he will lose his ability to teach.’’

Te Ngahue had taken huge steps to make changes. He had attended four sessions at the Community Alcohol and Drug Service ‘‘and is committed to attending more sessions’’, Ms Daysh said.

In response to a question from the judge, Te Ngahue said his twoyear provisional teaching registration had ended. He was up for registration now.

Judge Crosbie said Te Ngahue’s breathalcohol level had been quite high and there was an accident. Furthermore, he had three previous drinkdrive convictions — in 1992, 2004 and 2008.

In mitigation, he was remorseful, entered a guilty plea quickly and had selfreferred to CADS.

His references included one from his school principal and ‘‘rather uniquely’’ a couple from pupils.

Te Ngahue had been open and honest about what had happened and was constantly warning pupils not to make bad choices, the judge said.

‘‘They’ve all seen how this has affected you and that you want others to learn from your mistakes and not make the same mistakes themselves,’’ he told Te Ngahue in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

‘‘One says what differs you, is you put everyone else before yourself.’’

Since 2008, Te Ngahue had done good things, including completing his teacher training in 2015. He had been involved in schools in various capacities for some time and was highly regarded in his area of teaching, the judge noted.

Te Ngahue was sentenced to three months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily, and with leave to have the sentence commuted to community work). He was also placed on six months’ supervision; disqualified from driving for one year and a day; and is to pay $941.89 reparation (having already paid $1000).

Other convictions

Joshua Robert Smith (28), tiler, of Dunedin, cancellation of community work and supervision imposed last year on single convictions each of intentional damage and threatening behaviour, resentence on the two charges, and sentence for breaching community work in failing to report to probation, on May 5, and breaching supervision in failing to report to probation on January 12, and between February 3 and 23, three months’ jail (each charge, concurrent).

Katherine Margaret Mary Black (43), of Dunedin, drinkdriving (a police patrol saw her struggling to reversepark her car, Black said she had recently found out her friend had died; duty lawyer Chris Lynch said the defendant had just been kicked out of the house by her partner and had been to the service station to buy cigarettes, ‘‘in a distraught state’’), 887mcg, 12.45am, July 15, Bank St, 100 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision, nine months’ disqualification.

Richard Charles Wallis (52), musician, of Waikouaiti, drinkdriving, 686mcg, Thomas St, Waikouaiti, about 3am July 25, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Rohit Antaal (23), of India, studying in New Zealand for one year, drinkdriving, 539mcg, Canongate, 1.40am, July 17, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Andrew Page Wright (53), farmer, of Palmerston, careless driving causing injury (Wright was driving from Dunback to Cromwell, fell asleep at the wheel, veered off the right side of the road, narrowly missed a power pole, teenage daughter broke right forearm; defence counsel Rebecca Barton said Wright had supported his daughter in any way he could since the crash, he was an ‘‘upstanding member of society’’ and had served on local boards and committees), 2pm, June 11, fined $750, court costs $130, six months’ disqualification.

Melynda Rachelle Locke (41), of Dunedin, cultivated cannabis (constructed a chamber under an area of basement, gained access through a small hole in floor of the wardrobe, one grow light, 17 cannabis plants in bags, ranging from seedlings to 20cm tall, Locke said it was for her own use to assist with anxiety, she chose to grow rather than buy cannabis because she did not want to become involved in the ‘‘streetlevel drug scene’’), March 13 to April 13, two months’ community detention, six months’ supervision.

Shane William Tait (19), of Dunedin, performing an indecent act (Tait pulled over outside a residential address in Crew St, Gore and began to masturbate while playing pornography on his phone, a member of the public called police; defence counsel Jo Turner said the defendant was living on his sister’s couch at the time and had no privacy, he had been disciplined at work for being late, did not think anyone could see him when he parked up, he had since moved to Dunedin where he had a room of his own), 11.45am, February 27, six months’ supervision.