Kiwi chart-topper Tiki Taane plans to defend a charge of disorderly behaviour likely to incite violence - but will have to wait until after the Rugby World Cup to tell his side of the story.
Taane, whose real name is Nathan Tinorau, made a brief appearance in Tauranga District Court and indicated he would be defending the charge.
However, the 34-year-old chart-topper who lives in Papamoa, won't get to tell his side of the story until after the Rugby World Cup as the police officers involved his arrest at Illuminati Nightclub on April 10 will be policing the event.
Outside court yesterday, Taane said his brush with the law was proving positive for his career.
He had just returned from the Glastonbury Festival and a recent sell-out tour of Australia, where the media couldn't get enough of his "bizarre" story, he said.
The matter was adjourned yesterday until August 26 - when a defended hearing date would be set down.
Taane will not have to appear in court on that date.
The charge follows his arrest after police attempted to speak to him after he chanted the lyrics of a song by American rap group NWA not long after a group of police officers entered the club to conduct a licensed premises check.
It is alleged that some of the 300-400 patrons in the club that night joined in singing after a police officer went to the aid of security workers who were struggling to evict a patron after an unrelated incident.
Police say when they returned to the club about an hour later to speak to Taane about his behaviour he became agitated, aggressive and uncooperative and was subsequently arrested.
His lawyer Bill Nabney told Judge Heather Simpson that a defended hearing could not take place until the Rugby World Cup had finished.
Bar promoter Patricio Alvarez-Riveros, 24, who was has been charged in relation to the same incident also appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
Alvarez-Riveros, who has denied obstructing police and resisting arrest, was further remanded on bail pending a defended hearing.
Outside court Taane said that he could not wait to tell his side of the story and still could not see how anything he did that night could be classed as disorderly or inciting violence.
Photo above: Mark McKeown / Bay of Plenty Times
