Police say they will have a visible presence in the Hutt Valley area to ensure the safety of the community and monitor traffic. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Police will be keeping an eye on a tangi held in Lower Hutt this week after a woman was killed by a car.
Vanessa Ritihia Houpapa-Awatere died last Thursday and another person received minor injuries.
Emergency services were called to Cambridge Terrace in Naenae around 11pm.
A Health New Zealand spokesperson said Houpapa-Awatere was a healthcare assistant and a "longstanding member of our Hutt Valley team and she will be missed".
"Our sincere condolences are with her family and friends at this very difficult time and we are supporting our staff."
A 25-year-old woman has been charged with excess breath alcohol causing injury and excess breath alcohol causing death.
Court documents show her breath alcohol level at more than double the legal limit.
She appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on 28 March, and was set to appear again on 29 April.
RNZ understands the victim has family connections to Black Power.
Police say they will have a visible presence in the Hutt Valley area to ensure the safety of the community and monitor traffic, and antisocial or unlawful behaviour and driving-related offending would not be tolerated.
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