Mr Armitage's parents, Herbert and Helen, his sister, Deirdre Ijaz, and her husband, Adnan, travelled from Ireland to attend yesterday's inquest hearing in the Alexandra District Court.
"For me, this is like the last piece of the puzzle. We've seen the cross placed where he died and we've seen everything else as we've been following his last footsteps," Mrs Ijaz said outside the court.
Mr Armitage sen told the inquest the family felt no bitterness towards anyone, and were sorry the publican, George Morris, had been punished.
"We are very much aware that you have laws in this country and they must be adhered to, but we feel no bitterness towards George," Mr Armitage said in a statement to the inquest.
"We know in our hearts that had you [Mr Morris] offered those boys transport home that night, the answer would have been no, for they would have felt responsible for the safe return of the jeep they were driving.""Leslie's death was but a tragic accident. Maybe with hindsight, we can say it could have been different, but we carry a memory of a young man who brought joy and happiness wherever he went and died fulfilling his dream."
Outside the court, Mr Armitage told the Otago Daily Times his son was one month into his overseas experience and had been "having a ball" in New Zealand. He and his friends were on a working holiday in this country and then planned to tour Australia as well. After travelling, "to see life", his son was going to return home to take over the family farm.
"To have his own flock of sheep - that was his ambition. He was absolutely mad about farming and a fantastic worker. Leslie was so full of life and made friends very easily."
Friends and different groups in Ireland, including church and farming organisations the family was involved with, had donated money so they could attend the inquest in New Zealand, he said.
