The woman facing five charges over the sinking of the Easy Rider in Foveaux Strait believes she is nothing more than a scapegoat for Maritime New Zealand.
Gloria Davis is representing herself in the Invercargill District Court and nearly broke down in tears as she opened her defence on Thursday.
The Easy Rider as it prepared to leave Bluff. This picture was taken by a family member. Photo: SUPPLIED
She began by acknowledging the eight people who died when the vessel was swamped by a rogue wave, including her husband and skipper of the boat Rewai Karetai in March 2012. Only one person survived.
The charges have been brought under the Health and Safety in Employment Act and the Maritime Transport Act.
Gloria Davis is implicated because she is the sole director of AZ1 Enterprises Ltd, which owned the boat.
She told the hearing Easy Rider was operating completely within the law, no rules were broken and no offence has been committed.
Ms Davis said although she is sole director, Mr Karetai handled the day-to-day running of it. She said he was a careful man and would never have knowingly endangered anyone's life.
The hearing is expected to conlcude on Friday. Judge John Strettell is expected to reserve his decision.
