A witness has denied being paid to tell a story to a jury hearing a kidnap, violence and extortion trial.
The 20-year-old rubbished a suggestion that he knew his businessman boss was organising a middleman named "Sandwich" to stop threats being made to him.
The maintenance worker was being challenged by lawyer Maria Pecotic acting for Stephen William Daly, 33, one of the nine members or affiliates of the Head Hunters gang on trial in the High Court at Rotorua.
They face more than 100 charges relating to a series of violent events in February last year which the Crown claims involved the witness and businessman, whose identities are suppressed.
Also on trial are: Jordan Alexander Christian, 21, David Peter Clark, 36, Benjamin Paul Dwyer, 28, Brent Anthony Gunning, 37, Liam John Kane, 24, Matthew John McDonnell, 45, Stacy Walton Dennis Paora, 29 and Sam Wiremu Rolleston 23. They've each pleaded not guilty.