Suppression for Hubbard accused

The scene at the crash in which Allan Hubbard was killed. Photo / Dan Tasker

A man charged in connection with the crash that claimed the life of South Canterbury Finance founder Allan Hubbard has received name suppression this morning.

He did not appear when the case went before a registrar at Dunedin District Court and the matter was adjourned to March 9.

The accused is charged with careless driving causing death and careless driving causing injury to Mr Hubbard's wife Jean.

Police said the charges were laid after a thorough and robust investigation.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 about 8km north of Oamaru in Otago last September 2.

Mr Hubbard, 83, died and his 82-year-old wife, who was driving, suffered fracture injuries.

One witness said the crash happened on a straight and usually safe stretch of road.

At the time of his death, Mr Hubbard's Aorangi Securities was being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after it was placed in statutory management owing investors about $100 million.

Fifty charges laid against Mr Hubbard by the SFO were dropped shortly after his death.

The crash occurred just over a year after the collapse of South Canterbury Finance (SCF), the business Mr Hubbard developed into what was once New Zealand's largest finance company.