Prosecution - EWRB v Hughes

Andrew Hughes was sentenced in the Waitakere District Court on 9 December 2021 on charges of negligently doing work on an electrical installation in a manner that was dangerous to life, and holding himself out as an electrician when not appropriately licensed or registered.

Mr Hughes had been engaged to do a range of electrical work at a hotel, after he told the hotel’s owner that he was a registered electrician. The work was carried out towards the end of 2018 and included installing a switchboard, lights and power outlets. Shortly after the work was completed, the hotel owner was electrocuted by live wires which had been left exposed by the defendant. At sentencing, Judge Glubb imposed a fine of $5,000, along with court and solicitor costs.