New Zealand / Regional

Motorway toll protest case thrown out

12:52 pm on 24 November 2014

The High Court has thrown out a man's legal fight over his refusal to pay tolls on Auckland's Northern Gateway motorway.

Hans Grueber was appealing against four convictions for failing or refusing to pay a toll for using the 7.5km route north of Auckland.

Mr Grueber told a hearing earlier this month he shouldn't have to pay because, in his view, the construction of the road breaches the Land Transport Management Act and the tolls are therefore illegal.

In a decision released today, Justice Venning dismissed Mr Gruber's appeal, saying he needed to seek a judicial review of the decision to build the road if he wanted to prove it was illegal.

However, Justice Venning said even if Mr Gruber did take a judicial review, the evidence would not support his argument.