NZ motorist 's arrest brings free flight to Tonga .
WELLINGTON 1996-08-27
A New Zealand motorist got an unexpected free flight to Tonga on Tuesday after being caught drinking and driving .
The man drew attention to himself in the North Island town of Tauranga while trying to reverse his car out of a pothole on Saturday night .
He spun the wheels so much that the tyres caught alight and smoke began pouring from under the bonnet , the New Zealand Press Association reported .
Police arrested the man and charged him with drink-driving , but then iscovered he was wanted by the Immigration Service as an overstayer .
The man was due to catch a flight to Nuku'alofa in Tonga later on Tuesday .