'Weep but for God's sake learn' - upset MP's message

MP Shane Jones. Photo / Doug Sherring

A man who fled a police checkpoint at speed and died moments later when he crashed into a power pole was on his way home from his cousin's 21st.

And his grandfather has given a stern warning to other drivers - flee the police and face the consequences.

Luke John Bowman Yates, 22, drove away from the checkpoint in Taipa, near Mangonui, about 3.30am on Sunday.

The father of one took off at speed, and police at the scene tried unsuccessfully to follow him. Soon after, officers found the wreckage of his car.

Firefighters cut Mr Yates from the mangled vehicle, but he died at the scene.

Mr Yates' grandfather, Boy Yates, said his grandson had been drinking before the fatal crash.

"As far as we know he had been. He was my grandson, and to me he was okay - but they're all the same when they go out on alcohol," said Boy Yates, a former New Zealand Maori rugby player.

"He was a very good boy. But just the same as everyone else, if you don't obey the police these are the consequences."

Mr Yates' body was being taken to Parapara Marae last night, where his mother, Donna Yates, and extended family had gathered for his tangi.

Labour MP Shane Jones has close personal connections to the whanau - his son Pene-taui went to school with the 22-year-old, Mr Jones went to school with Donna Yates and he knows Boy Yates, who is a Ngati Kahu identity.

He was upset about the death last night.

"It's a tragic waste. The message, though, to our young Maori parents is: look, weep, but for God's sake learn. If you flee the police, they do not stop. They are a machine, you either face the music or you die. Unfortunately for this boy who I had a lot of love for, he's dead."

He described Mr Yates as "boisterous and full of beans" and said he wanted to know more about the incident and quality of police conduct in relation to the death.

Mrs Yates' sister Tinalee said said Mr Yates had moved back to Taipa, where he grew up, only about a month ago. He had been living and working in Auckland with his partner and 2-year-old son.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Clifford Paxton said investigations into Mr Yates' death were continuing.

He would not be drawn on whether he was a disqualified driver or whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority was also investigating.

Inspector Peter Raynes of Whangarei said the police were in a difficult position over drivers who failed to stop.

"Ultimately, the onus of responsibility rests with the offending drivers. Drivers who flee from police put themselves and innocent road users at immense risk." additional reporting: Yvonne Tahana