Bay of Islands speedboat firm fined again over Mack Attack injury

The former owners of the Bay of Islands vessel Mack Attack, has been fined after a woman broke her back, the second time the company has been fined over a woman breaking her back on the boat

A woman whose back was broken on a speed boat in the Bay of Islands wants harsher consequences for the boat's owner, whose driving left another woman a paraplegic two years earlier.

Raewyn Russell has a permanent back injury after the boat ride and says she feels "cheated" out of her dreams for the future.

The Mack Attack boat was owned by Seafort Holdings Ltd, and run by its sole director and shareholder Richard Prentice. It is no longer owned by Mr Prentice, and NZME, the parent company of the Northland Age, has been unable to reach him or the company for comment.

Mr Prentice and his company have been ordered to pay more than $93,000 in fines and reparations after the accident, the second time a passenger has been seriously injured on the Mack Attack.

The Northland man's launch master certificate was revoked in May 2016 after complaints about his driving. However the certificate was reinstated last year, meaning he can legally drive pleasure boat trips again.

Ms Russell was preparing to head away on holiday with her husband Craig Russell in October 2014 when she saw an advertisement for Mack Attack jet boat rides.

Thinking it would be a fun way to kick-start their holiday, the 60-year-old Havelock North resident booked a trip for the second day of their break in the north.

She didn't have any concerns about the boat ride before they took off. However she started to get a bit nervous mid-way through the ride, when waves began growing in size and strength.

"The waves just got bigger and bigger and he didn't slow down — he just kept going," Ms Russell said.

"I looked at my husband and thought, 'jeez, this is a bit worse than I thought it would be'."

She recalls the moment when she looked down and realised the boat was aqua-planing and then the vessel dropped.

"And that's what got me."

Ms Russell heard a crack and knew it was her back breaking.

"The driver comes around and he says 'Oh, you'll be all right, you've just winded yourself'."

After some discussion, Mr Prentice said he would drive her to shore. On the way, however, he pulled into another bay and stopped.

Ms Russell said she was not able to think or move through the extreme pain she was experiencing. Four years on, she still suffers back pain and said she could not stand for long. She went through months of physiotherapy and had to give up her career as a manager and travelling salesperson.

Maritime New Zealand ordered Mr Prentice to pay $32,630 in reparation and the company was fined another $55,000. He was fined a further $5500 for failing to take practical steps to help keep passengers safe.

Seafort Holdings was fined $90,000 following a similar incident in 2012 when a passenger was left a paraplegic after a rough trip in the Bay of Islands. And company also ran into issues in 2013 when Mack Attack was involved in a near-miss incident with a ferry.