Three tourists were before the courts today after serious road crashes since Christmas Day.
Mario Pieper. Photo: RNZ / Steve Wilde
German tourist Mario Pieper was ordered to pay $20,000 in emotional reparation after he caused a fatal car crash which killed a Chinese student.
Pieper was driving between Queenstown and Invercargill on Boxing Day last year when he struck Jessica Tao's car killing her and injuring two of her friends.
Ms Tao's mother, who flew from China for the sentencing in the Invercargill District Court today, described her anguish at losing her only child.
Another German man was charged with careless driving causing death after his car hit another at an intersection near Springston in Canterbury yesterday.
Stephanie Anne Ellis, 54, from Leeston, died at the scene.
A French tourist, who was driving on the wrong side of a King Country road, has pleaded guilty today to dangerous driving, injuring six people, following a crash in January.
Stephen Mazerat appeared in court in a wheel-chair.
The police have also named the 29-year-old Chinese tourist who died when his car reportedly crossed the centre line and hit a stock truck, in North Canterbury last week.
Ying-Hua Zhou was on holiday in New Zealand.
