Three Queenstown trail-bike riders were fined $600 each yesterday for damaging the Routeburn Track in Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks by riding the track's entire 32km length.
Clifford Michael Baker (33), mechanic, Ashley David Cameron (30), jet-boat driver, and Steven Alan Eakin (48), mechanic, appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday after being convicted on one count each of reckless damage to property and two counts each of driving a vehicle on a road other than a formed road.
A Doc ranger stationed at McKenzie Hut was woken at 1.45am on May 12 by the sound of their revving engines. After police and other Doc staff were alerted, the three were eventually caught at 7am.
The trio were to be sentenced on the reckless damage charge but Judge Dominic Flatley delayed sentencing pending repair work to the Routeburn hut, which they had volunteered to do as a means of restorative justice.
The sentencing delay arose because Doc staff are unable to oversee the work as they are busy preparing the Routeburn Track for the Great Walks' summer season.
Judge Flatley said the offending needed to be "marked" and indicated the offenders would be discharged without conviction on the reckless damage charge.
He acknowledged the men were "generally good citizens" and accepted they were remorseful and had been apologetic.
"Everybody knows you don't ride bikes across these tracks, " he said.
Judge Flatley said the trio would not be required to appear for sentencing on December 1 if work on the hut had been completed.
