The Auckland couple who allegedly used essential worker exemptions to escape alert level 4 and travel to Wānaka have been charged and summoned to court.
William Willis, 35, and Hannah Rawnsley, 26, will face a charge of failing to comply with the COVID-19 health order when they appear at Papakura District Court on Thursday, October 14.
"Police have carried out a thorough investigation into this matter," a police spokesperson said.
"While we appreciate there is a high level of public interest in this case, police are unable to comment further while the matter is before the court."
The couple face up to six months in prison or a $4000 fine if they are found guilty.
Rawnsley is a lawyer at Auckland firm Roddie Sim, while Willis is a horse breeder and equestrian who'd competed internationally.
The couple are accused of using their essential worker exemption to get through Auckland's southern boundary and drive to Hamilton. It's alleged they then boarded a commercial flight to Queenstown, rented a vehicle and drove to Wānaka, where the Willis family has a holiday home.
Police were alerted after the couple were dobbed in online via the COVID-19 compliance reporting tool.
Willis and Rawnsley - and his mother, a public official - had been granted interim suppression in the District Court on Monday while police considered laying charges under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order.
The couple's lawyer, Rachael Reed QC, initially told the District Court she was concerned about the attention from bloggers and citizen journalists on social media who could publicise the pair's identity and cause them hardship.
But last Tuesday the pair apologised publicly, saying they are "committed to taking responsibility for our actions" and "will not be seeking further name suppression".
"We initially sought name suppression after receiving death threats and we had genuine fear for our safety," they said in a public statement.
"We understand that strict compliance is required to stamp out COVID-19 from our country. We have let everyone down with our actions, and we wholeheartedly apologise."
The couple added they both received negative COVID-19 tests before and after travelling, and friends and families were not aware of their travel plans.
Willis' mother, District Court judge Mary-Beth Sharp - who had earlier been granted name suppression with the pair - also released a statement condemning their actions.
"Like the rest of New Zealand, I was appalled to learn of my son William and his partner's actions over the weekendWillis and Rawnsley - and his mother, a public official - had been granted interim suppression in the District Court on Monday while police consider laying charges under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order.
The couple's lawyer, Rachael Reed QC, told the District Court she was concerned about the attention from bloggers and citizen journalists on social media who could publicise the pair's identity and cause them hardship.
But on Tuesday the pair apologised and said they are "committed to taking responsibility for our actions" and "will not be seeking further name suppression".
"We initially sought name suppression after receiving death threats and we had genuine fear for our safety," they said in a public statement.
"We understand that strict compliance is required to stamp out COVID-19 from our country. We have let everyone down with our actions, and we wholeheartedly apologise."
The couple added they both received negative COVID-19 tests before and after travelling, and friends and families were not aware of their travel plans.
Willis' mother, District Court judge Mary-Beth Sharp - who had earlier been granted name suppression with the pair - also released a statement condemning their actions.
"Like the rest of New Zealand, I was appalled to learn of my son William and his partner's actions over the weekend," she said.
"In addition, I was and am highly embarrassed. Had I known of their intentions, which of course I did not, I would have told them not to act so thoughtlessly and selfishly. I do not condone their conduct."
