Hit-and-run accused in court

The car police say was involved in the alleged hit and run.

Alleged offender in NZ on a work permit has surrendered passport.

A man has been charged after allegedly hitting a woman in the rental car he was driving and fleeing the scene afterwards.

The 25-year-old man, who is in New Zealand on a work permit, appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday charged with careless driving causing injury, making a false statement to police claiming a car had been wilfully damaged, and failing to stop and give help after an accident. He was forced to surrender his passport.

Earlier this month, police released photos of a blue Suzuki Swift which had been returned to a vehicle rental company bearing a large dent in the bonnet and a damaged windscreen.

Forensic examination of the car revealed the vehicle had hit a person, who was expected to have a head injury - police then contacted the driver. He was granted name suppression yesterday by Community Magistrate Janet Holmes after duty lawyer Kyle Bendall told the court he had ailing family members overseas who had not been informed about the charges.

Ms Holmes extended suppression until Friday but said "there's every chance it will be lifted on that date".

The 25-year-old defendant was remanded on bail to a West Auckland address, ordered to surrender his passport and told not to apply for any travel documents.

The victim of the alleged hit and run was believed to have been crossing Great North Rd between the Mobil service station and Larch St when the Suzuki - driving in the right-hand, east bound lane - struck her. A member of the public contacted the investigation team leading to the identification of the woman, who was eventually interviewed.

She suffered some injuries from the collision but they were not life threatening, Detective Sergeant Kevin Blackman said.

It is believed a man, who was possibly driving a van, had stopped and offered to help the young woman as she lay on the side of the road after the defendant had allegedly driven off, according to police.