A Napier man who last year pleaded not guilty to charges alleging illegal importation of elephant ivory has now admitted five charges.
Patrick Cooper, 61, pleaded guilty to the charges of trading in an endangered species, when he appeared before Judge Tony Adeane in Napier District Court yesterday.
He was remanded for sentencing on December 22.
Appearing for prosecuting agency the Department of Conservation, barrister Rebecca Guthrie withdrew 27 other charges to which Cooper had pleaded not guilty when he appeared in the court in September last year.
Defence counsel Scott Jefferson said one of the charges to which Cooper pleaded guilty was "representative" but a small part of the summary of facts relating to that charge was disputed.