A judge has ruled police should not have chased a car in Kaitāia last year, before a fatal crash.
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A Mazda was pursued at 115km per hour down the town's main street last October, according to newly released Police Conduct Authority findings.
After three minutes, police abandoned the chase on a rural road before a series of bends.
But the Mazda crashed into a power pole soon after, killing one passenger and injuring three others and the driver.
Authority chair Judge Colin Doherty says the risks of pursuing the likely intoxicated driver were bigger than those of letting them drive off.
He said the officer's assessment was "flawed".