The Auckland couple who used essential work exemptions to escape the region's COVID-19 lockdown and travel to Wānaka have been sentenced.
William Willis, a 35-year-old equestrian, and Hannah Rawnsley, a 26-year-old lawyer, were charged in September with failing to comply with a COVID-19 health order. They were accused of using an essential worker exemption to travel through Auckland's southern boundary to Hamilton before flying to Queenstown via Wellington and then driving to Wānaka.
Auckland was at COVID-19 alert level 4 at the time.
The pair appeared in the Papakura District Court via audio-visual link on Tuesday and pleaded guilty.
On Tuesday afternoon Willis was fined $750 and ordered to pay $130 in court costs.
Rawnsley was discharged without conviction but ordered to donate $500 to a recognised charity.
While the couple were originally scheduled to appear in court on October 14, the COVID-19 alert levels have caused a series of delays.
The case gripped the country mid-lockdown, with the pair coming under intense public scrutiny. After initially receiving interim name suppression, the couple were named in mid-September, releasing a statement apologising to New Zealand for their actions.
"We initially sought name suppression after receiving death threats and we had genuine fear for our safety. However, we remain committed to taking responsibility for our actions and will not be seeking further name suppression," the couple said.
"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 pair said they had negative COVID-19 tests before travelling to Wānaka and after returning and had not visited any locations of interest, nor were close contacts.
Willis' mother, District Court judge Mary-Beth Sharp, also released a statement condemning the pair's behaviour. She said she was "appalled" by their actions and was "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."
