NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Man thought beaten to death actually fell out of car, police tell inquest

Melissa Nightingale
By Melissa Nightingale
Senior Reporter, NZ Herald - Wellington·NZ Herald·
11 Dec, 2018 01:58 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jardin Daniel Whanga-Elliott died in Wellington Hospital in July 2016 after being found by two members of the public lying in a gutter in Naenae, Lower Hutt. Photo / Facebook

Jardin Daniel Whanga-Elliott died in Wellington Hospital in July 2016 after being found by two members of the public lying in a gutter in Naenae, Lower Hutt. Photo / Facebook

A 21-year-old believed to have been brutally bashed to death after a birthday party actually died after falling from a moving car, police say.

Jardin Daniel Whanga-Elliott died in Wellington Hospital in July 2016 after being found by two members of the public lying in the gutter of a street in Naenae, Lower Hutt.

It was initially reported that Whanga-Elliott died after being chased down and beaten by a group of people, but a Coroner's inquest today heard his fatal injuries were from falling out of a car.

Senior Sergeant Scott Dunn read a report to Coroner Chris Devonport, which said three forensic scientists concluded Whanga-Elliott's injuries, including fractures to his skull and brain damage, were consistent with falling from a vehicle.

He said Whanga-Elliott had been at a 21st birthday after-party on the night he was injured, where he was described as intoxicated, obnoxious and argumentative.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Witnesses said he made several attempts to steal other people's cigarettes and alcohol, and was asked to leave multiple times.

Whanga-Elliott was even escorted from the address several times but each time came back, Dunn said.

At one point he was physically removed by the partner of one of his aunties, Talosage Terry David Moreli.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Whanga-Elliott eventually left the party and went to his uncle's home, then returned to the party with a group of people in a car.

"Upon arrival they were met by a large group of people," Dunn said.

Moreli approached the vehicle and attacked the driver and Whanga-Elliott, kicking him in the shin and arm.

He was later charged with two counts of common assault for the attack, but was convicted and discharged. He was not believed to be responsible for Whanga-Elliott's death.

Discover more

New Zealand

21-year-old brutally bashed at party dies

05 Jul 10:54 PM

The group in the car fled the scene after the beating.

Witness statements varied after that point, but police believe Whanga-Elliott jumped out of the car, intending to go back to the party and fight.

Factors such as his injuries, damage to his clothing, witness accounts, and CCTV footage support this, Dunn said.

A 15-year-old witness who was in the car at the time and was intoxicated told police he remembered trying to hold onto Whanga-Elliott to stop him from jumping out.

The boy described being "extremely upset" at the time, telling the driver to stop, but remembers being told to "shut up" as the car continued moving, Dunn said.

The driver admitted to police he was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said Whanga-Elliott was talking about wanting to go back and fight, but in a later interview with police he said he may not have stopped the car at all, and that Whanga-Elliott might have gotten out of the car while it was still moving.

Another witness in the car said Whanga-Elliott jumped out of the car and landed on the grass before getting back up and walking back towards the party.

Police have ruled out this account, which is not supported by CCTV footage. The footage does not show Whanga-Elliott walking back towards the party.

Shortly after 3am, another driver and her passenger found Whanga-Elliott lying in the gutter with critical injuries. The passenger told police he was lying with his head and neck at "strange angles".

CCTV footage did show two men running after the car when it first fled the scene, and someone was thought to be carrying a piece of a white picket fence, but the timeframe was not long enough for the men seen chasing the car to reach the scene where the members of the public found Whanga-Elliott lying on the ground.

The piece of fence did not have any of Whanga-Elliott's DNA on it, Dunn said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When asked at the inquest by Whanga-Elliott's mother if anybody would be charged over him falling from the car, Dunn said it was too late, because charges laid under the Land Transport Act had to be laid within six months of the offending.

Dunn also said there were no evidential breath or blood tests taken, so it could not be proved that the driver was drunk, and they could not prove he knew Whanga-Elliott had fallen out of the car.

Moreli also gave evidence at the inquest, where he described the events of the night.

When answering questions from Whanga-Elliott's mother, Moreli said the death had impacted his life.

"I will be affected by this for the rest of my life, I took a spiral downwards," he said.

"I knew Jardin personally, to the point where at times he has called me uncle.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He was a bright kid."

Moreli described Whanga-Elliott as a "really humble" person with a "lovely nature".

He said he would "definitely" be friends with him if he was still alive.

The inquest is set to continue for the next two days.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Three hospitalised after major house fire in Dunedin

20 Jun 06:39 PM
Premium
New Zealand

'Awful': Forestry skidder tipped over cliff after logging company goes bust

20 Jun 06:00 PM
New Zealand

'Save a lot more lives': Stage 4 cancer survivor's plea for earlier screening

20 Jun 06:00 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Three hospitalised after major house fire in Dunedin

Three hospitalised after major house fire in Dunedin

20 Jun 06:39 PM

More than two dozen firefighters battled the fire at its peak.

Premium
'Awful': Forestry skidder tipped over cliff after logging company goes bust

'Awful': Forestry skidder tipped over cliff after logging company goes bust

20 Jun 06:00 PM
'Save a lot more lives': Stage 4 cancer survivor's plea for earlier screening

'Save a lot more lives': Stage 4 cancer survivor's plea for earlier screening

20 Jun 06:00 PM
Brewing kindness: The volunteers bringing comfort one cuppa at a time

Brewing kindness: The volunteers bringing comfort one cuppa at a time

20 Jun 06:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP