The pursuit started just after 5am when the Hilux tried to avoid a police breath-test check in Mt Maunganui. It eventually involved eight police officers in four vehicles, and reached 160km/h.
At one stage officers tried to use road spikes to stop the fleeing vehiclebut the driver managed to swerve around them.
Judge Sir David Carruthers concluded that while police were justified in pursuing the Hilux initially, they should have called off the pursuit on several occasions because of the unacceptably high speed.
"The sustained high speeds reached by the pursuing officers were dangerous to the public, the occupants of the Toyota 4x4 and the officers themselves," he concluded.
Mr Wilson showed no intention of stopping and was driving "far in excess of the posted speed limit".
Mr Keepa's grandmother, Lee Keepa, said she did not believe police should engage in pursuits.
"The boys had done wrong but I don't believe in the chase. I know the kids these days are cheeky and arrogant but the police go fast, the kids go faster. Perhaps there is another way."
Mrs Keepa, who raised her grandson for most of his life, is happy with the police response.
"I'm not blaming the police. By the look of it officers will all be spoken to ... It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong, it won't bring him back."
- APN
