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Kaci Tauroa jailed over dangerous driving causing the death of her 10-year-old brother Jax Tauroa-Wall

Published

7 months ago

April 30, 2026

“I wish I could swap places with my brother.”

Those were the words of Kaci Tauroa, a young woman who drove dangerously and crashed, killing her 10-year-old brother Jax Tauroa-Wall.

Tauroa’s letter was provided to Judge Greg Hollister-Jones and referred to by her lawyer Racheal Raukawa, who said no sentence could compare to the lifelong sentence the now 24-year-old imposed on herself.

The letter went on to say; “He deserved the world, he deserved to be living right now, he was so loved. I love him and miss him every single day”.

As Raukawa read that portion of the letter in the Taupō District Court today, Tauroa wept in the dock.

A victim impact statement from Jax’s father spoke of the immense loss, and the shock of learning his dearly loved boy had been killed in the crash.

It had been “299 days” since he received the news that “turned his world upside down” and left him screaming into a mattress and punching the ground so hard he fractured his knuckle.

“Jax was full of life, laughter, love, and kindness,” he said in his victim impact statement.

“He was clever, talented, cheeky, and had a huge, bright smile.”

And he had been more than just a much-loved son.

“He was my best friend, my right-hand man, my apprentice, and my future hunting and fishing mate.”

The statement said he still wished he could “wake up and find out it was only a nightmare”.

A rainy night, foggy windows, and unsafe driving manoeuvres

Tauroa and Jax had been in Tauranga on July 4, 2025, where Tauroa purchased a Toyota that had an air conditioning fault, which caused the windows to mist.

As she drove her brother back to Tūrangi that evening, it was a cold, rainy, winter night.

She was driving between Hatepe and Motutere on State Highway 1, the road was wet, and driving conditions were poor.

The air conditioning fault, combined with the weather conditions, caused the windscreen to fog.

Tauroa was noted by other road users to be tailgating other vehicles, to the point that her headlights were not visible in the rear-view mirrors of the vehicles being tailed.

Tauroa overtook a Ford Ranger at the same time a fully-loaded car transporter was travelling in the northbound lane, which the summary of facts said was “inherently unsafe”.

She completed the passing manoeuvre while approaching a blind right-hand bend.

As she entered the bend, she was travelling at more than 120km/h, causing her to lose control and crash into the truck.

It was about 7.30pm, and the 10-year-old boy died at the scene.

An injured Tauroa was taken to hospital, and a blood sample showed cannabis in her system.

She was also driving on a restricted licence, which didn’t allow her to take passengers.

Judge says nothing could ‘bring back Jax’

Crown prosecutor Anna McConachy pointed to a number of aggravating factors the court ought to take into account, including the tailgating, passing on a blind corner, speed, consumption of cannabis, and driving contrary to licence conditions.

“There was a particularly high breach of trust given the passenger in the car was her 10-year-old brother,” McConachy said.

She submitted his young age needed to be taken into account, in terms of the “high level of harm” caused.

The Crown sought a starting point of five years’ imprisonment.

McConachy accepted a 25 percent discount was appropriate for Tauroa’s early guilty plea, as well as a small discount for remorse.

McConachy said there had been comments made to a pre-sentence report writer that seemed to dispute matters related to her “manner of driving”.

However, the report writer had surmised this could have been down to immaturity.

Raukawa told the judge Tauroa was deeply remorseful, had ongoing mental health impacts and had even had suicidal thoughts.

She said the faulty air conditioning contributed to the crash, but said Tauroa accepted she should have pulled over to try and address the misted windows.

“But you don’t overtake on a blind bend with foggy windows,” replied the judge.

“No, and that’s accepted,” Raukawa said.

Raukawa submitted total discounts should amount to 40%, and asked for a lower starting point, which could allow a sentence of home detention to be considered.

Judge Hollister-Jones began the hearing with a karakia, and said from the outset that sentencings of this nature were particularly difficult, noting the tragic loss was immeasurable and nothing the court did could “bring back Jax”.

He considered the aggravating features included her consumption of cannabis and driving on a restricted licence with a passenger.

“This was a prolonged course of very bad driving,” he said.

It was one of the most challenging pieces of State Highway 1 and, in his view, it was a dangerous piece of road that needed to be driven cautiously.

In this case, Tauroa had overtaken on a 25km/h speed advisory sign, which “was madness”.

It was night, the driving conditions were poor, and her bad driving had included “aggressive driving” – referring to the tailgating.

He also considered it aggravating that she had not adjusted her driving and slowed down, given the air conditioning fault.

He also noted the breach of trust and immense harm caused.

“Whilst death is inherent in the charge, I have heard about the devastating loss Jax’s death has caused,” the judge said.

He set a starting point of four years and six months’ imprisonment.

The judge accepted Tauroa was genuinely remorseful but gave a limited 5% discount for remorse, given she had told the pre-sentence report writer she regularly drove her brothers and sisters, despite her restricted licence.

Judge Hollister-Jones had received letters that supported Tauroa’s previous good character, and he considered she had strong prospects of rehabilitation, giving her a 5 percent discount for those factors.

He also gave a 5 percent discount for the shock she endured upon learning her much-loved brother had died.

She received an overall discount of 40 percent, leading to an end sentence of two years and eight months’ imprisonment, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

Supporters could be heard weeping in the public gallery after her sentence was handed down.

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

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Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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