Woman admits drunk driving with kids in car

A woman has pleaded guilty to drink-driving almost four times over the limit with two small children in the car.

Kylie Jean Antunovich, 29, appeared in Auckland District Court this morning where she entered her plea.

Dressed in a black top and a black-and-white patterned skirt, with her dark hair pulled back, she stood quietly in the dock as her lawyer Martin Hislop said she was set to embark on a rehabilitation course.

Antunovich was due to join an eight week residential course at Higher Ground next week, he said, and she had also abstained from alcohol since her arrest in December.

"My submission is that's an accomplishment that she got herself together," Mr Hislop said, adding that she had not had a drink for a "significant time now".

She was remanded at large, with sentencing postponed until the completion of her rehab treatment. A monitoring date was set for next month.

A photograph application made by media was declined by the community magistrate, on the grounds it would cause undue harm to her two children, aged 6 and 8.

Antunovich was tested about 6.30pm on December 30 after a concerned motorist followed her to a property on Barrett Rd, Riverhead and called police.

The motorist told officers there were two young children in the car.

Antunovich's alleged breath-alcohol level was 1568 micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

A source has told the New Zealand Herald that Antunovich said at the time she had consumed half a litre of vodka shortly before driving.

Waitemata road policing manager Inspector Mark Fergus has said Antunovich was "seen to be swerving into other lanes and driving off the shoulder of the road".