All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • All Blacks
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • 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

Rotorua judge gives teen second shot to stop being 'lazy'

Kelly Makiha
By Kelly Makiha
Multimedia Journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
7 Mar, 2018 01:55 AM3 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

The HMNZS Taupo navy vessel and Coastguard joined the search for Jason Lines in November 2017. Photo / File
The HMNZS Taupo navy vessel and Coastguard joined the search for Jason Lines in November 2017. Photo / File

The HMNZS Taupo navy vessel and Coastguard joined the search for Jason Lines in November 2017. Photo / File

A teen charged with interfering with a dead body has been told by a Rotorua District Court judge to "get off his butt", stop being "lazy" and do what he's been asked by the court.

Tiger Ross, 18, appeared in the Rotorua District Court this morning after previously being given police diversion for a charge of interfering with the remains of Jason Lines' body.

He is jointly charged with five others, one of whom has pleaded guilty, and four others who are to stand trial.

Lines died when his fishing dinghy capsized crossing the Bowentown Bar, south of Waihi Beach, on November 20.

Two people survived the capsize and Lines' body washed ashore seven days later.

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Lines was buried at a Rotorua urupa. Eight people were charged with interfering with the remains on December 2.

In court today, Sergeant Tere Rei told Judge Tony Snell police wanted to withdraw their offer of diversion because Ross had not responded to their requests regarding restorative justice.

Diversion is offered by police in situations where charges can be dealt with using an alternative method, resulting in the charge being withdrawn and no conviction entered.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ross' lawyer, Ben Hollier, said despite his client intimating a guilty plea when diversion was offered, he now wanted to plead not guilty.

Judge Snell took exception, asking how could Ross be remorseful one day then claim he wasn't responsible the next.

Judge Snell said he felt it was more a matter of he had not been given the "right kick in the pants" to do what he had to.

Rei said police were willing to give Ross one more chance.

Discover more

New Zealand

Body washed ashore to be identified today

27 Nov 07:03 PM
New Zealand

Six men and 2 youth charged over interfering with Jason Lines' body

04 Dec 05:07 AM
New Zealand

Court for six charged over body

05 Dec 02:17 AM
New Zealand

8 plead to counts of interfering with body

19 Dec 06:10 AM

Judge Snell asked Ross whether he wanted to go down a lengthy court period of being on bail and having to go to trial or do what the police said.

"While there is a general apathy and lack of get up and go among many of the young people before the court, if you are being offered diversion, do it. Do you want to get off your butt and get diversion?"

Ross told the judge he would do diversion, to which Judge Snell replied "you are seeing the light".

Judge Snell said he intended to personally "judicially monitor" the process by seeing Ross each fortnight, warning "the moment you slip up or the moment you get lazy" he would have the option taken away.

The judge went then set a special court hearing in two weeks when he expected Ross to tell him he had been the "most enthusiastic person" on diversion.

Ross was remanded on existing bail conditions to contact the police diversion officer and return to court at 9am on March 20.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sebastien Wineera, 22, Rhys James Phillips, a forest worker, 25, Ryan Rawiri Lingman, a fencer, 25, and Shannon Shiloh Apirana, 28, have pleaded not guilty and will reappear on May 2 for a trial callover. Maurice Ututaonga, 21, pleaded guilty and will reappear on April 4 for sentencing.

Two youths originally charged have had their charges withdrawn in the Rotorua Youth Court.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

A 50-year secret unveiled: Gardener who murdered pensioner had killed before

16 Jun 05:01 AM
New Zealand

Napier's only surviving CBD pharmacy raided for third time in 10 weeks - again for perfumes

16 Jun 03:39 AM
New Zealand

Why Matariki has become one of NZ's most meaningful public holidays

16 Jun 03:37 AM

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
How many have you tried? Auckland's new Top 100 Iconic Eats named
Lifestyle

How many have you tried? Auckland's new Top 100 Iconic Eats named

16 Jun 04:30 AM
Kiwi fans miss out as broadcasters skip Women's Euros coverage
Football

Kiwi fans miss out as broadcasters skip Women's Euros coverage

16 Jun 04:00 AM
Samoan fashion designer shot dead at Utah protest against Trump
World

Samoan fashion designer shot dead at Utah protest against Trump

16 Jun 03:53 AM
Minnesota manhunt ends: Suspect in lawmaker's murder captured
World

Minnesota manhunt ends: Suspect in lawmaker's murder captured

16 Jun 03:51 AM
Southern Mexico mayor shot dead in her office
World

Southern Mexico mayor shot dead in her office

16 Jun 03:43 AM

Latest from New Zealand

A 50-year secret unveiled: Gardener who murdered pensioner had killed before

A 50-year secret unveiled: Gardener who murdered pensioner had killed before

16 Jun 05:01 AM

Elliot Cameron killed his brother in 1975, but his past was suppressed until now.

Napier's only surviving CBD pharmacy raided for third time in 10 weeks - again for perfumes

Napier's only surviving CBD pharmacy raided for third time in 10 weeks - again for perfumes

16 Jun 03:39 AM
Why Matariki has become one of NZ's most meaningful public holidays

Why Matariki has become one of NZ's most meaningful public holidays

16 Jun 03:37 AM
Pharmac makes funding U-turn over patches for menopause treatment

Pharmac makes funding U-turn over patches for menopause treatment

16 Jun 03:05 AM
How one volunteer makes people feel seen
sponsored

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

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
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search