Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has been slapped with a fine after admitting to crossing a centre line in Rotorua and crashing into an elderly couple's car.
The crash happened in May and an elderly woman was taken to hospital as a result. Tamaki was subsequently charged with careless driving.
A police summary of facts alleged Tamaki was travelling on Hamurana Rd at about 5pm on May 6 when his vehicle crossed the centre line and ended up in the wrong lane.
According to the summary, the elderly couple was travelling west and the man driving tried to swerve - but was unsuccessful and they collided.
Tamaki did not appear when his case was called in Rotorua District Court on Thursday.
His lawyer said he was not required to appear due to it being a category 1 offence.
The lawyer also told the court Tamaki took full responsibility for his actions and that he had expressed remorse for the accident. The court heard how Tamaki helped the couple get insurance to cover their written off vehicle.
Tamaki was fined $500 for the conviction. Careless driving carried a maximum penalty of $3000.
He was also ordered to pay $500 to each victim.
The conviction comes after Tamaki organised several anti-Government protests. One of the protests last month shut down Auckland's Southern Motorway and blocked traffic for more than an hour.
Tamaki was also facing multiple unrelated charges over allegations he violated the COVID-19 lockdown last year by organising protests. Mass gatherings were banned at the time.
A case review hearing for those charges was set down for next month.
