The ski operator charged after a 2018 Mount Ruapehu bus crash that killed an 11-year-old girl and injured dozens of other passengers has been ordered to pay $433,000 in reparation to the victims.
But Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which operates the Tūroa and Whakapapa ski fields, is now in liquidation and won't be required to pay a $250,000 fine due to its financial status.
The company pleaded guilty to two charges brought by WorkSafe under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in April this year and was sentenced at the Waitākere District Court on Wednesday.
During the sentencing, the court heard from the mother of Hannah Francis, the 11-year-old who was killed when the bus lost control and overturned as it headed down the mountain.
She and her father were making their way home from a day of skiing.
"Not only has Hannah been robbed of a future, but we've been robbed of her love and her presence, of watching her grow up and succeeding, no parent should ever have to outlive their children," Michelle Bruton said.
Bruton told the court her daughter was her "sidekick", and an empathetic, naturally gifted student, with a warm soul.
"My darling daughter, my soul mate, my sidekick taken from me. Then having to tell so many people who adored her the news, it broke my heart every time."
A coronial inquest found the crash was due to bad driving that resulted in brake failure, as well as the bus operating at its design limits, with a type of brakes that were prone to overheating and failure.
The Coroner ruled the accident "undoubtedly avoidable."
Thirty-one passengers were on board and many of them were injured, three seriously.
On Wednesday, several other victim impacts were read to the court.
"I see the woman at the front of the bus, and I hear her yelling at people to put their ski helmets on, I see the man jumping out the emergency exit and think about how I almost jumped out too. I remember telling myself I'm about to die," one of the victims wrote.
Outside court following the sentencing, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Jonathan Dean apologised to those impacted.
"We will keep advocating alongside you for changes to the industry for mandatory seatbelts to be imposed and also promotion of alpine code of transport we unreservedly apologise for this tragedy."
