Bay man denies charges over $82,000 worth of stolen beehives

A man accused of stealing beehives will defend the charges in a trial at Tauranga District Court. Photo/file

A Tauranga labourer accused of stealing 40 beehives and receiving another $58,000 worth of stolen hives will defend the allegations at trial.

Paul Martyn Hutton, 46, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of receiving stolen property and one charge of theft when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court before Judge Paul Mabey QC today via an audio-visual link.

The theft charge relates to beehives Hutton allegedly stole from Katikati Honey Limited.

Hutton's lawyer Michael Toner entered not guilty pleas on his client's behalf and said Hutton elected trial by jury.

Judge Mabey further remanded Hutton in custody to next appear in the same court on December 19 for a case review hearing.

No trial date has yet been set.