Mother Frances Latu-Vailea killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children including young baby
Photo:
RNZ/Calvin Samuel
A mother killed in a
triple-fatal crash
alongside her young daughter and niece has left behind three children including her eight-week-old baby.
Frances Latu-Vailea, her five-year-old daughter Oneahi Vailea and seven-year-old niece Marly Tulua died when their car left Masters Road and crashed into a culvert in wetland on Tuesday afternoon.
A Givealittle page set up for the families said the "devastating accident" had left Latu-Vailea's husband suddenly widowed and the sole caregiver for their three sons, aged eight weeks, two, and 12.
"We are raising funds to support both grieving families during this unthinkable time," the page said.
The page said the money would help give Latu-Vailea's husband time to grieve without the burden of immediate financial pressures such as the mortgage and household bills. It would also provide essential support as he "navigates caring for their young boys and processing such an unimaginable loss", it said.
Donations would also help support Tulua's family who are "also mourning deeply while caring for their own young baby and facing the pain of losing Marly, Frances, and Oneahi".
"No words can ease the pain, but your kindness and support can help lighten the heavy load these families are carrying right now," the Givealittle page said.
"Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference."
Latu-Vailea worked as a court registry officer, and the head of the Ministry of Justice said staff were devastated at the sudden death of their colleague.
Chief executive Andrew Kibblewhite said Latu-Vailea was a court registry officer for the Family Court, primarily based at Pukekohe District Court.
He said she worked in many locations including North Shore, Manukau and Papakura, and the tragedy would have a huge impact on many people.
Kibblewhile said he and his staff offered their deepest condolences to Latu-Vailea's immediate and extended family.
"We are all thinking of Frances' family, and our wider Auckland kaimahi, and offering our support during this very difficult time," he said.
The crash site where three people died in a fatal accident on Masters Road, Waiuku.
Photo:
RNZ/Calvin Samuel
The deaths have also sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Waiuku community.
"It's pretty devastating actually. It's a small town, most people know someone who knows them if they don't know them themselves," local Jennie Tapp said.
"The fact that it was a woman and two children, it just blows your mind."
Another resident Inga Anja Noom said Masters Road had a bad reputation.
"We all feel sick because usually in a small town like this everyone knows somebody and it's a horrible stretch of road and it's not the first and it probably won't be the last. But yeah, no, it's heartbreaking."
Noom said it was particularly dangerous in wet weather.
"It's quite narrow, it's windy in the start up to it and then it's just one long stretch with humps in the road and bridges and stuff," she said.
"And with weather like this in wintertime, the creeks are completely full on either side, it's really bad."
Locals say the narrow, bumpy road will continue causing accidents until
speed limits are enforced
.
Masters Road falls on the border between Auckland and Waikato and was a concern for both regions' councillors.
Waikato district councillor Peter Thomson said it was often used as a shortcut around the more tightly managed main road between Waiuku and Pukekohe.
"I've heard that it's been used as a bypass to the Waiuku-Pukekohe road, so people can feel that they can travel faster on this road rather than the Pukekohe-Waiuku road, which has got a number of speed cameras on it and is only 80 [kilometres per hour]," he said.
Andy Baker, the councillor for Auckland's Franklin Ward which contained Waiuku, said the road was narrow and bumpy.
"This road is predominantly straight, it runs from both ends, it's basically a straight line but it's very undulating and from what I can see where the crash was, it's in a dip, and there's a lot of trees around," Baker said.
Masters Road sign, the road where three people died in a fatal accident.
Photo:
RNZ/Marika Khabazi
But Baker said it was too early to determine if the road was a factor in the fatal crash.
"I think it's a little bit premature maybe to say the road's at fault here or there's an issue with the road," he said.
"I know that some locals have been concerned about some things, whether they were contributing to the crash, we won't know until the Serious Crash Unit do their report and eventually it'll run through a coroner's court."
Resident Noom said Masters Road still needed speed cameras like the main Waiuku-Pukekohe road.
"Well if they're going to do it on one side, they'll probably have to do it the other, and everyone will hate me saying that but this is what's happening," she said.
"We had a crash there two weeks ago, they walked away from that one. We had a death there last year and it won't be the last."
She said the crashes would continue until motorists were given a reason to slow down.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland street racer clampdown: Dozens fined, cars impounded
Police set up checkpoints at known meeting points across Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday night. Photo: Supplied / Police Police issued dozens of fines, impounded vehicles, and breath-tested thousands of drivers during a large "antisocial road user event" in Auckland on Saturday night. The coordinated crackdown - backed by the Eagle helicopter - targeted an estimated 200 vehicles involved in the illegal gathering, police said. Officers fanned out across known meeting points across Tāmaki Makaurau, setting up checkpoints and making their presence felt early in the night. More than 2500 drivers were stopped and tested for alcohol. Over 15 returned excess breath alcohol readings, while a further 70 infringements were issued for various offences. Police also ordered 71 vehicles to undergo mechanical inspections, dishing out 33 green stickers for minor defects and six pink stickers for serious safety issues. Five vehicles were impounded. Despite the size of the convoy, police said the group caused little disruption to the wider public. "Dozens of police units worked hard to disrupt the event," said Inspector Regan James. "We saw some illegal behaviour - burnouts and other dangerous driving - but staff did well to stay on top of it and break up the convoys." The operation now shifts into an investigation phase, with officers reviewing footage and other evidence to identify additional offenders. "We'll be taking strong enforcement action wherever possible," James said. "We've been very clear - there's zero tolerance for this kind of reckless behaviour on our roads." Police are encouraging the public to report antisocial driving. If it's happening in real-time, call 111. Reports can also be lodged via the non-emergency 105 line or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Taranaki rapist Allan Rosewarne denied parole, remains a risk of violent, sexual reoffending
By Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter of Photo: 123RF Warning: This story discusses a case of extreme violence and sexual offending. Allan Neil Rosewarne has been described as a sex monster. He took control of two of his partners across 18 years, alienating them from family and friends while he regularly raped and mercilessly beat them. One was often injected with a cocktail of drugs by Rosewarne, who would then brutally violate her while she was unconscious. The other took an opportunity to run for her life along a highway and across farmland after 17 years of torture. It's now been 11 years since Rosewarne, of Taranaki, was jailed to preventive detention for his reign of rape, extreme violence, sadism and cruelty to children. But he continues to minimise the abuse, "emphatically" denies he raped his former partners, and remains a risk to the public, according to the Parole Board. Recently, the board made its second consideration of releasing Rosewarne, now 59, on parole. He became eligible for release about two years ago, but he waived his appearance before the board at his first hearing in July 2023. Late last month, he was called again, and this time he appeared. He did not want a lawyer to assist him, and he filed written submissions. Rosewarne was unsure he wanted parole but wished to know what conditions might be imposed if he did get out. However, any chance he would be freed has been shelved for at least three years, as the board declined his parole and made a postponement order so he would not have another hearing until 2028. A decision released to NZME this week detailed how Rosewarne was told at the hearing that his victims never wanted him released, and they were "doing well" despite his offending against them. In response to this, he said he only pleaded guilty because so many charges were laid against him, and he accepted a plea bargain. "He accepted that he was violent towards both his partners, although he said he only hit them with an open hand and never punched them. This is contrary to the summary of facts," the decision read. "He emphatically denied ever raping his partners. He did accept that his partners may have been scared of him, but he could not see that their fear may have led them to have sex with him despite not consenting." The decision stated that Rosewarne did not meet with the psychologist for a risk assessment before the hearing or with his case manager to assist in preparing a report for the board. He had no release proposal, and no support was referred to. However, Rosewarne has participated in three sessions of treatment with a psychologist during his time behind bars and told the board he would be willing to engage in more. The board said further treatment was needed to "begin to try and address" his offending. "We remain concerned about the risk posed by Rosewarne, given the very serious offending that he committed and his minimisation of most of that offending in our discussion today," the board wrote. "He needs to do extensive work to address both his risk of violent re-offending and his risk of sexual reoffending. He is an undue risk, and parole is declined." The board said it would not be suitable to consider him for release for another three years. In 2014, Rosewarne was sentenced in the High Court at New Plymouth to an indefinite prison term with a minimum period of imprisonment of 10 years. According to senior courts' decisions on the case at the time, he was 24 when he met his first victim, who was 15 at the time. When she moved in with him in 1990, he "had emotionally taken control of her and had alienated her from her family and friends", an earlier Court of Appeal decision, declining his appeal against sentence, read. "[He] began to subject [her] to frequent and devastating emotional, physical and sexual abuse, which escalated as time passed". Rosewarne threw her into walls, punched her repeatedly about her face and body, pulled out chunks of her hair, severely beat her with weapons, and jumped on her with both feet while she was pregnant. She received black eyes, on occasion her nose was broken, and she was subjected to "forceful and painful sexual intercourse… for lengthy periods of time". The woman escaped one day in 2007 when he fell asleep and she left, making her way along Forgotten World Highway and across farmland. Rosewarne began a 20-month relationship with his second victim around 2008. According to court documents, he also subjected her to frequent emotional, physical and sexual abuse. "Over the course of their relationship, [Rosewarne] injected her with a cocktail of drugs. He controlled what [she] took and administered the drugs to her. Often she did not know exactly what was being given to her." He often raped her while she was unconscious from the drugs. She eventually developed a substance addiction, and he would torture her with withdrawals. Rosewarne beat the woman with household objects, grabbed her by her hair and dragged her through the house, and repeatedly punched her in the head. He was also convicted on cruelty charges relating to the women's children. At the time, Rosewarne was dubbed a "sex monster" by the media that covered the case. Sexual Violence: Family Violence: If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. - This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Stiff jail sentences for South American-linked Operation Bali cocaine and meth smuggling syndicate
By Ric Stevens, Open Justice reporter of Claudia Romero Lopez and Peter Wellman were both sent to prison. Photo: Supplied / Facebook When a joint police and customs operation, Operation Bali , culminated in 2022, officers seized 28kg of imported methamphetamine, 5kg of cocaine and $450,000 in cash. Ric Stevens looks at the people who are now serving hefty jail terms for their parts in the South American-linked drug syndicate. Claudia Romero Lopez grew up in poverty, enduring a chaotic and abusive childhood caught up among the infamous drug cartels of South America. In 2011, she got the chance to escape her traumatic past and begin a new life in New Zealand. But she didn't leave her old life in Colombia completely behind her. She stayed in contact with her ex-husband back home, an alleged drug dealer named Eddy, and when her son joined her in New Zealand some years later, she helped him in his drug-dealing activities too. Now she is in prison. So is her Kiwi husband, her son and another South American immigrant, who all joined forces in a criminal group to import Class A drugs - cocaine and methamphetamine. The Wellington-based syndicate operated at least between February 2021 and June 2022, importing an estimated 28.6kg of methamphetamine and 5kg of cocaine. A joint police and Customs investigation, codenamed Operation Bali, was started after Customs intercepted several drug consignments at the border. The amounts in each and the packaging led Customs to believe the consignments were somehow related to each other. They notified police, and a joint investigation was set up, with a core group of five Customs investigators and between five and 10 police officers. Some of the suspects were identified as foreign nationals who were using Spanish in their communications. Spanish-speaking police officers were brought in to provide translations in "close to real time", according to Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Collett of the National Organised Crime Group. Collett told NZME that authorities have seen an increase in methamphetamine and cocaine coming into New Zealand in recent years from Central and South America. He said this could be attributed to the drug cartels in those areas expanding into the South Pacific. "New Zealand is considered by international standards a very lucrative market for the sale of methamphetamine and cocaine," Collett said. "Users in New Zealand pay premium prices for the controlled drugs, and suppliers such as the South American cartels can maximise their profit by supplying the New Zealand market." In Operation Bali, the drugs arrived in packages and consignments addressed to fictitious people, or hidden in imported items, including the legs of a wooden table, a plate from a roading compactor, a metal cog, and a sausage grill. Some of the meth seized in Operation Bali was concealed in a package containing a picture of the Virgin Mary. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police Some of it was even in a package containing a painting of the Virgin Mary. Operation Bali culminated in June 2022, when police with 11 search warrants raided properties in Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Hamilton. The searches uncovered not only drugs, but also more than $450,000 in cash. The subsequent court cases resulted in hefty prison sentences for syndicate members, handed down by Justice Helen McQueen in the High Court at Wellington. Romero Lopez's New Zealand husband, Peter Alexander Wellman, got the stiffest prison sentence in the group after pleading guilty to importing cocaine, importing and supplying methamphetamine, conspiring to possess methamphetamine for supply, and money laundering. He was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison, with no chance of parole for three years and four months. Another leading member of the group, Sergio Antonio Vargas Gonzalez, was sentenced to seven years and three months for importing methamphetamine and cocaine. Romero Lopez's son, Juan Sebastian Galicia Romero, pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine and cocaine and conspiring to possess meth for supply. He was sentenced to six years and nine months in jail. Romero Lopez herself, who said she was acting in deference to Wellman and to please her son, pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and money laundering. She was sent to prison for four years. Gonzalez's former partner, Frances Petersen, pleaded guilty to being a party to the importation of methamphetamine and received a sentence of eight-and-a-half months of home detention. Court documents say Wellman used his business, Specialty Glaziers, to rent a storage container where the drugs were extracted from the imported goods and processed. When police searched the house that Wellman and Romero Lopez shared, they found $144,000 hidden in the hot-water cupboard. Peter Wellman used his company, Speciality Glaziers, to rent a storage container where the Class A drugs were extracted from imported goods and processed. Photo: Supplied / Facebook The money laundering transactions for which Romero Lopez and Wellman were charged involved buying vehicles with cash - the couple paid $25,500 for a Nissan X-Trail SUV, and Wellman handed over $48,000 in cash for a caravan. They explained their offending by saying it stemmed from a setback which caused them pain and financial hardship. Wellman and Romero Lopez were involved in a serious car accident in 2018. Wellman's ability to work was compromised by his injuries, and he turned to meth to deal with the pain while he was working. Before then, he had been considered a hard-working and highly regarded member of the community, according to references provided to the court from a former employer, a neighbour and friends. Wellman had previous convictions, not specified by the sentencing judge, but apart from a driving offence in 2002, they were all more than 30 years ago. But after Wellman started taking meth, he became addicted. His use increased dramatically, and he needed money to pay for the drug at the same time that he was earning less from his business and using up his savings. He was offered the chance to obtain meth at a reduced cost if he became a supplier and found other people to sell it to. Romero Lopez was described as having an "extremely difficult personal history" in South America before moving to New Zealand 14 years ago. She came from poverty. Her early life was unstable and abusive, chaotic and traumatic. She was caught up in a gang-related drug cartel, although she later claimed that she had never used illegal drugs herself. She had no previous convictions. She was married for a while to the alleged drug supplier Eddy. She later met and married Wellman in New Zealand, but suffered spinal injuries in the 2018 car crash, leaving her unable to work. Romero Lopez claimed she was unaware of the cash found at her home, telling a probation officer that she looked after the house, and he looked after the money. " didn't question where the money came from," she was quoted as saying. "Women from my culture and situation don't do that." Romero Lopez said that some of her offending was to help her son, Galicia Romero, who took a leading role in the syndicate. She said she would "try to do anything" to make her son happy. Galicia Romero worked with contacts overseas to send the drug imports to several New Zealand addresses. Court documents say he was personally responsible for the importation of 2.5kg of cocaine and 1kg of meth, and was found to have $63,450 hidden in a PVC pipe in his home. Operation Bali officers discovered 6.1kg of meth hidden in the base plate of a roading compactor. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police Galicia Romero, 27, was born in Colombia, and a report prepared for the court said that he grew up in the context of crime, violence and the idea that people could only succeed and get out of poverty through illegal activities. Another report said that when he was in his late teens, his father encouraged him to get to know older men involved in criminal activities, because they had money and status. Galicia Romero joined his mother and two brothers in New Zealand under a family resettlement programme. He has previous convictions and has struggled with addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He faces possible deportation after finishing his sentence, and thus separation from his New Zealand-born son. Vargaz Gonzalez was involved in importing the lion's share of the syndicate's drugs - 15.2kg of methamphetamine and 2.5kg of cocaine. Police found $299,000 hidden in a storage locker he had access to. He also directed his then partner, Petersen, to provide addresses where drug consignments could be delivered. These were sent to fictitious people, including "Teresa Hendricks". Teresa is Petersen's middle name, and Hendricks is her mother's maiden name. Petersen is a former psychology student who, according to court documents, is at risk of being trapped in a lifestyle of dancing in nightclubs, vulnerable to drug and alcohol use and predatory men. She applied for a discharge without conviction and name suppression, and was unsuccessful on both counts. Wristweights containing methamphetamine were seized by Customs during Operation Bali. Photo: Supplied / NZ Customs Detective Senior Sergeant Collett said offshore drug suppliers were using increasingly sophisticated methods to conceal drugs coming into the country. In many cases, even the recipients don't know how the consignments will arrive and in what form until they receive the goods. Wastewater analysis and increased seizures show that cocaine use in New Zealand is on the rise. The national drugs in wastewater testing programme estimated that in the first quarter of 2025, the national consumption of the drug was 4.5kg a week. This compares with 3.3kg in the first quarter of last year. - This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald
