A former Hawke's Bay orchardist has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of rape and indecent assault while remaining in Australia on bail.
Michael Justin Wellwood, who now lives in Queensland, denies the three charges of rape, four of sexual violation and three of indecent assault relating to incidents dating back to 2008 along the east coast of the North Island.
The 45-year-old was excused from attending yesterday's hearing at Hastings District Court after his lawyer, Jonathan Krebs, earlier argued his client was "not perceived as a flight risk".
The offences are alleged to have occurred in Hastings, Havelock North, Anaura Bay and Puketapu, between January 2008 and December 2014.
He has been granted bail and allowed to return to his rural Tamberine home, just West of the Gold Coast and South of Brisbane, where he has a job and partner.