Te Mapara boat trailer crash: Man charged after death of young mother Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere

A 19-year-old man had been charged with dangerous driving causing death in relation to the crash on State Highway 3, Te Mapara, in July.

A man has been charged following a fatal crash where a boat trailer broke free and collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Nateisha-Kurstyn Hana-Wetere, 23, from New Plymouth, died at the scene after the crash on State Highway 3, Te Mapara, on July 11 this year.

Police said today a 19-year-old man had been charged with dangerous driving causing death and was due to reappear in Te Kuiti District Court on November 3.

Four other people were injured in the crash.

Hana-Wetere’s brother, Te Huia Brown-Hana, told RNZ in August his sister was driving near Te Kūiti on her way back home to Auckland after a holiday in New Plymouth on July 11 when the crash occurred.

The 23-year-old’s car was struck by a boat and trailer unit that had detached from an oncoming vehicle.

Hana-Wetere died as a result of the crash. Her 3-year-old son was also in the car, Brown-Hana said.

Brown-Hana told RNZ his sister was “larger than life”. She was caring, and had a “bubbly” personality.

“She was everything you could have wanted and more in terms of a sibling.

“She always accepted everyone for who they were. She didn’t pass judgment on no one.”

Hana-Wetere’s partner was working in Australia, and she was planning to eventually join him.

“She had everything going - she started planning out what she wanted in her life and how she wanted to get there and she was actually doing really well,” Brown-Hana said.