Woman charged in alleged Rotorua hit-and-run near night market banned from CBD

The Rotorua Courthouse, where a woman charged over an alleged hit-and-run near the Rotorua Night Market appeared on Thursday. Photo / File

A woman charged over an alleged hit-and-run near the Rotorua Night Market has bail conditions that prevent her from going into Rotorua’s CBD.

The woman, 21, appeared before a registrar in the Rotorua District Court on Thursday. Duty lawyer Mike Olphert asked for her to be granted interim name suppression.

She did not enter a plea to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

She was charged after a woman suffered serious injuries after allegedly being hit by a vehicle after last week’s Rotorua Night Market on June 5.

The charged woman was granted interim name suppression until her next appearance on July 7.

The registrar said her bail conditions included that she be at her home between 7pm and 7am.

She was not allowed to associate or contact the alleged victim, drive a motor vehicle or be within 50m of Rotorua’s central business district.

The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years’ jail.

Police said in an earlier statement the incident happened on June 5 about 9pm near the intersection of Haupapa and Tutanekai Sts.

Police alleged the vehicle left the scene before police arrived.

This week’s Rotorua Night Market, which takes place on Tutanekai St between Haupapa and Hinemoa Sts, was cancelled “as a precaution” amid investigations into the incident.

A Rotorua Lakes Council spokesperson told the Rotorua Daily Post that as the incident occurred near the night market area, the council had a health and safety duty to ensure the safety of vendors and the public.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.