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17 Feb 2026 4:25
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  •   Home > News > National

    A driver who crashed a bus carrying Chinese tourists near Rotorua last year -- has admitted causing the deaths of five passengers and injuring eight others

    A driver who crashed a bus carrying Chinese tourists near Rotorua last year -- has admitted causing the deaths of five passengers and injuring eight others


    Junwei Zhang appeared in the Rotorua District Court today.

    He entered guilty pleas to five charges of careless use of a motor vehicle causing death -- and eight charges of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.

    Four adults and a young child died in the tourist bus crashed on September 4.

    The bus was carrying 27 people when it rolled on State Highway five at Ngatira, 20 kilometres northwest of Rotorua

    Zhang will be remanded on bail to be sentenced on September 21.

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

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