A coroner's inquest will start today in Hamilton following the deaths of seven tourists in two car crashes earlier this year.
Tamara Garlick Barnett, known as Tammy, was killed in a collision at 5.30pm on March 11 near Hamilton, along with her friends Bishop Mitch Peterson and Ruth-Ann Peterson. All were from the American state of Utah.
Tamara's husband Richard Barnett later pleaded guilty to three charges of careless driving causing death.
He was disqualified from driving in New Zealand for a year, fined $3000 and ordered to pay the truck driver he crashed into $1500 for emotional harm.
Both couples were well-known in the small community of Richfield, and were members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Four members of the Lee family were killed after a fatal collision with a truck north of Tokoroa in February.
Warren Lee (53), Aesoon Lee (52), and their 20-year-old daughter Julia Lee died in the crash. Julia's brother Griffin, aged 17, died in hospital later.
Mr and Mrs Lee were American citizens living in Hong Kong.
Their daughter had been living and studying in Massachusetts and was due to start studying at the University of Auckland a few days after the crash.
The hearing at the Hamilton District Court is before Coroner Gordon Matenga.
