Day in the Dock: Avoid jail now or spend a decade there, warns judge
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
A 22-year-old has avoided jail for her part in a “serious attack” that left a man unconscious in Taupō, an attack even her lawyer admitted left her “disgusted” at her actions.
Zandrier Brown was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention and ordered to make a $500 emotional harm payment after she was sentenced for one charge of injures with intent to grievous bodily harm at Taupō District Court on Tuesday.
Brown’s lawyer told Judge John Bergseng his client had family support with her, and that she had acknowledged “her behaviour” after viewing CCTV footage.
“She vocalised how disgusted she was in her actions,” he said.
“That is not her and she is still trying to come to terms with how she did this to someone.”
He said the incident occurred outside a bar where two groups of people had earlier been asked to leave.
This resulted in the two groups meeting outside, where “an altercation arose”.
He said a co-defendant was the main instigator in the assault against the victim, though Judge Bergseng claimed Brown’s role was “fully involved, boots and all”.
Judge Bergseng said she kicked the victim while he was being punched by the male offender, and “began stomping him about the body”.
She then kicked him in the head four times, while the male “kicked him with a football style kick to the head”.
He said the man was knocked unconscious and Brown “thought it would be a good idea, using your mobile phone, telling him to apologise”.
“Still not satisfied, you kicked him to the head.”
He cited “anger and hostility” as reasons for her participation in what he described as “a serious attack which targeted the victim’s head”.
He had some words of consolation however, noting her lack of previous and telling Brown “with the right guidance you might be someone that does not come back to court”.
He also warned her that if sent to prison it is “almost inevitable you will spend the next ten years going in and out of jail”.
Charges of resisting police and refusing to accompany enforcement officers landed Edward Eschbank his appearance - though he did not appear in person.
His lawyer told the court a shoulder injury had prevented his travel, and supported that with a medical certificate.
He also described his client as someone with “some pretty staunch views on matters”, and that he would maintain not guilty pleas.
He requested a two-hour judge-alone trial, which was scheduled for September 21.
Drinking in town at 1.43am led Morgan Kanawa to Taupō District Court, and an assault charge.
His lawyer entered a guilty plea and the prosecuting sergeant said the assault took place after the victim “instigated a physical altercation which has resulted in him being knocked unconscious”.
Kanawa told police “I didn’t want to fight. He started it.”
He is set to be sentenced on September 8.
The wait for an updated forensic report put the brakes on proceedings for Te Rangi Rahui, who appeared via audiovisual link facing two charges of indecent act and one charge of shoplifting.
His lawyer told the court Rahui had been “very unwell”, something he appeared to object to.
“Unwell? You’re sacked.”
Judge Bergseng requested a further forensic report, and noted that with “enough time in custody, he gets better”.
Rahui will reappear on July 7.