Len Brown's assistant hits pedestrian in 'shared space'

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has been a staunch advocate of the designated shared spaces. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The executive assistant to Auckland's mayor drove over a woman in one of the vehicle-pedestrian "shared spaces" her boss has championed.

Courtney Riesterer, 39, pleaded guilty yesterday to careless driving causing injury at Auckland District Court after the April incident on Federal St in the city centre.

The area, which runs beside the Sky Tower, is one of several designated shared spaces where the council has removed the distinction between footpath and road.

Riesterer was leaving the council's underground carpark but did not see Kimiko Haba, who was taking a photo of the tower with her back to the exit.

"At this intersection the defendant has been careless and not stopped to ensure the way is clear before turning," a court summary of facts said.

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Riesterer knocked Ms Haba over with the front right of her black Volkswagen and drove over her, stopping with the victim trapped under her car.

Ms Haba, who has lived in New Zealand for the past 10 years, said her pelvis was broken in four places and her arm in two.

She came to court using a crutch after the incident also left her with torn knee ligaments.

Ms Haba said, through a translator, the focus of any coverage should be the shared space, which Judge Stan Thorburn accepted was "hazardous".

"Both drivers and pedestrians need to take care," he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Len Brown has been a staunch advocate of the project since its inception in 2011.

An Auckland Council report into the Fort St shared space found there had been no "injury crashes" and most users felt safer at all times.

"We now have proof that shared spaces have made the streets safer and more attractive for people and done well, they can deliver significant benefits to local businesses. We will continue to identify opportunities to roll out quality shared spaces to suitable streets in the city centre as well as in Auckland's suburbs and towns," Mr Brown said in 2012.

Yesterday, the mayor would not comment on whether Riesterer's crash had changed his opinion on the zones as it was "a private matter still before the courts".

However, he did say the defendant was "a respected and valued" member of the team.
Defence lawyer Stuart Blake indicated he would apply for his client to avoid a mandatory six-month driving ban because of the special circumstances.

"There will be a substantial emotional-harm payment that will hopefully assist the victim with ongoing care and rehabilitations ... and she will a complete defensive-driving course to ensure public safety," Mr Blake said.

Judge Thorburn indicated that if those steps were met, the application would be granted at sentencing and the defendant would leave with only a conviction.

The case was adjourned until December so Riesterer and Ms Haba could meet at a restorative justice conference.

Shared spaces are policed as though they were normal roads but Auckland Council recommends:

• Drivers must observe low speeds and give way to pedestrians
• Cyclists and motorcycle users are subject to the same rules as cars and must drive slowly and give way to pedestrians
• Cyclists and motorcycle users must travel in the same direction as traffic