Judge Thomas Broadmore said the court would have to “feel [its] way through” the case, as he had never come across a similar one – and because Kingi’s pregnancy of seven months made it difficult for her to travel from Waitara in Taranaki, where she now lives, for restorative justice meetings.
The court heard that Kingi, originally of Featherston, stole a $14,000 Toyota Prado ute in Featherston on January 7 and drove it to Waitara, where she was arrested.
Later that month in Featherston she stole $87 worth of petrol from a petrol station and number plates worth $30 from a vehicle belonging to Presbyterian Support Central, which employs Wairarapa Restorative Justice Services to facilitate voluntary, court-approved encounters between victims and offenders.
A representative of Wairarapa Restorative Justice Services said in court it found itself in an unusual situation, but facilitators from elsewhere could be brought in.
Mr Minehan said a restorative justice meeting with the ute’s owner would happen next week, and that the petrol had already been repaid.
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