A court has been told the teenagers who fled an isolation hotel in Hamilton with their mother were trying to get to their father’s funeral.

But the family of five were arrested and charged, and faced court as the funeral went ahead in Auckland.

The 37-year-old mother who fled the Distinction Hotel with her children has appeared in Hamilton District Court via video link today.

The children charged alongside her are 18, 17 and 16 years old, while a 12-year old did not face charges.

Judge Noel Cocurullo extended his sympathies to the woman over the death but slammed her behaviour.

He said the public are sick and tired of people breaching the strict quarantine rules.

The family had raised money in Australia to attend the father’s funeral.

The judge has asked police to request the funeral be filmed for the family to watch at a later date.

The woman and children were bailed to a managed isolation facility in Auckland.

The woman is the children's sole caregiver.

Newstalk ZB Total Recall host Rev Frank Ritchie and broadcaster Dean Butler join The Panel to discuss the big issues making news this week.

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