Ex-National MP Tau Henare has been fined $1200 for breaching a high-profile name suppression order online.
He appeared in Waitakere District Court today, two months after pleading not guilty to the charge.
But today he said he had reconsidered his position and asked to change his stance.
"Your honour, it's not an excuse but when it happened I was in an argument on social media about another issue and I thought I'd use that as my argument," Henare said.
"Really I have no more to say other than an apology to the court for wasting its time, the police department for wasting its time and really I should've known better, but there we are."
Late last year, Henare breached a suppression order on Twitter regarding the case of a well-known New Zealander who had admitted to performing an indecent act after an incident in 2011, but was later discharged without conviction and granted permanent name suppression at sentencing.
Henare was not so lucky.
Judge Kevin Glubb said breaching court-imposed orders was "a very serious matter" and warned him doing it again would result in a more serious penalty.
Henare was ordered to pay $1200, plus court costs.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.
Outside court Henare blamed his "big mouth" for the court fiasco and warned others against getting riled up while online.
"It is embarrassing, and I don't get embarrassed about most things. I'm supposed to be a former Member of Parliament and I should know better," he said.
While apologetic about his behaviour, Henare still believed the issue of name suppression should be more victim focused and believed it was something the Minister of Justice would look at.
"If the victim in a crime wants their name released, it should happen overnight and the same with the perpetrator."
Henare also had some advice for other prolific online communicators.
"Social media is great ... you just have to be a bit careful about what you say and what you say in reply to somebody as well," he said.
"I shouldn't say social media got me in trouble, my mouth got me in trouble."