The crash left 77-year-old ferry skipper Bill Elliott with a serious spinal injury.
The other defendant wanted more time to consider his plea.
The men, aged between 18 to 23, were followed to Ōtara where they ditched their car.
Casey John Burtt Smith applied for over $200,000 worth of subsidies.
It's New Zealand's first-ever criminal prosecution for cartel conduct.
The trial started in July.
It follows a week-long trial at the Auckland District Court.
An inquiry "might provide some answers to the victims of this horrible tragedy", James Cairney says.
It comes after two men were sentenced to home detention for decade-old crimes at the Auckland District Court on Tuesday.
Those behind it say it'll be a "test case" for the country.
The protest against the felling of 23 trees lasted from July of 2020 to March of 2021.
Zhenhua Yang was charged under the Maritime Transport Act for operating a ship in a manner that caused unnecessary danger to others.
He will appear in the Auckland District Court on Wednesday.
In the Auckland District Court today, the man pleaded not guilty to 10 charges.
The ex-teacher from Dilworth School has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
Detective senior sergeant Scott Armstrong said the two men have been charged with manslaughter and burglary.
No one was injured in the incident.
Police located the drugs along with $200,000 in cash and a shotgun.
"What happened here was not okay."
The skimming equipment was used to steal the card details of over 122 Kiwis.
