A former Mount Maunganui Senior Sergeant and now Hawke's Bay area commander has been offered diversion after being charged with careless driving.

Inspector Tania Kura was on duty when she was involved in a crash with another vehicle being driven by a member of the public on Hasting's Maraekakaho Road on November 26 last year.

Hawke's Bay Inspector Tania Kura was offered diversion after being charged with careless driving. Photo: Fairfax NZ

Kura, 29-year police veteran, was the first female Senior Sergeant in charge of Mount Maunganui police back in 2005 and became Hawke's Bay's first area commander after Napier and Hastings combined into one policing area in 2012.

Fairfax reports Kura was on duty and driving a police vehicle at the time.

'After an investigation, she was charged with careless driving. This matter is still before the court and Police are unable to comment any further until it has been finalised,” says a police spokesperson.

Kura was granted interim name suppression when the matter was first called in Hastings District Court in April and the matter was referred for diversion.

An application to adjourn proceedings to complete diversion was filed on June 10, and the matter adjourned to October. Name suppression was not requested to continue and lapsed on June 10.

The nature of the charge meant Kura was not required to appear in court on either occasion and the matters were dealt with in her absence on the papers.

Under the diversion scheme, some offenders who have been charged are dealt with in an 'out of court' way. If an offender completes agreed conditions the prosecutor can seek to have the charge withdrawn and a conviction will not be recorded.

The police prosecution service administers and operates the diversion scheme.

Under the scheme, first offenders can avoid a conviction if they make amends and often pay a donation.

– Stuff