A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A man facing six charges of indecent assault and a charge of sexual connection, all involving a female under 12, was granted continued interim name suppression when he appeared in Gisborne District Court.
Judge Warren Cathcart granted the order on the grounds that naming the alleged offender could risk identifying the complainant, whose identity is automatically protected by law.
The man was further remanded on bail until July 12, when he is expected to enter pleas to the charges and to apply for ongoing name suppression.
Charged with injuring with intent to injure or with reckless disregard, Ngahuku Junior Walters, 31, was further remanded in custody for sentence by AV-link on September 20.
A report assessing the suitability of an electronically-monitored sentence was ordered.
Phillip Paul Tahuri, 32, appeared by AV-link from a prison remand unit to plead not guilty to four charges – unlawful possession of a firearm (a .22 rifle), unlawfully getting into a vehicle, demanding to steal, and common assault (laid under the Crimes Act).
For the stealing and assault charges, Tahuri elected trial by jury and was further remanded in custody for a case review hearing in the Wairoa District Court on August 7.
The other two charges will be called at a case review in Gisborne District Court on July 24 when Tahuri, again to appear by AVL, is expected to elect how they will be heard.
Charged with aggravated robbery, after an incident that allegedly involved three other co-accused — one of them a 16-year-old — Mithias Tepou, 20, roofer, pleaded not guilty. He was further remanded on bail until July 12, when he will have to elect either a trial by jury or judge alone.
He is also expected to plead that day to a charge of breaching bail.
Peta Chris Shannon Gemmell, 21, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully taking a vehicle (from Taupo) but admitted three breaches of bail and a breach of release conditions.
He was granted bail to appear, on the vehicle charge, for a case review hearing in Taupo District Court on July 12.
He will be sentenced for the admitted matters in the Wairoa District Court on August 7.
A charge of possessing an offensive weapon is being dealt with in the Napier District Court.
Mychal Seamus Gemmell, who is in custody, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and two breaches of release conditions. He was further remanded in custody for report and sentence on September 20.
The report will assess his suitability for an electronically-monitored sentence.
Counsel Mana Taumaunu said Gemmell intended to apply for electronically-monitored bail ahead of sentence.
A man was convicted of driving while disqualified, for the 21st time.
Anson Ray Kokiri, 39, pleaded guilty to the charge and to four charges of theft, involving petrol.
He pleaded not guilty to unlawfully taking a vehicle.
He was refused bail and further remanded in custody to appear in Whakatane District Court on July 3 for sentence and a referral of the denied matter to a case review hearing.
An argument with her mother escalated resulting in Cerise Mary Nepe Otton-Apatu, 22, being charged with common assault, threatening behaviour, and wilful damage (of a bedroom window).
Counsel Alistair Clarke said Otton-Apatu had no history of violence. Tensions had since abated.
Otton-Apanui was convicted, ordered to come up if called upon within six months, and ordered to make reparation of $264 for the damage.
Fabian Thomas Miller, 28, admitted assaulting a person in a family relationship and was granted an application to have his case transferred to the Family Harm Intervention Court, where he will appear on July 16.
His “inconsistent response” to the programmes he was required to attend in the Family Harm Intervention Court saw Braden Johnson, 19, referred back to the district court for sentencing.
Braden, who previously pleaded guilty to common assault, arising out of a domestic incident, was sentenced to 70 hours community work.
Noting the teenager’s extensive list of previous offences, some of which were serious, Judge Cathcart said it was a pity Braden had not taken up the opportunities for reform provided by the Intervention Court.
He now risked terms of imprisonment for any further similar offending.
This charge arose out of an incident in which Johnson demanded his partner drive even though she had been drinking and told him she did not want to risk losing her licence.
Johnson slapped the woman at least six times in the face with the back of his hand. She suffered a bloodied nose and scratches.
To three common assault charges laid under the Crimes Act and one laid under the Summary Offences Act, Anahera Bishop, 18, pleaded not guilty and elected a judge-alone trial.
She was further remanded on bail for a case review hearing on August 5. Three breaches of bail, alleging she failed to appear in court and to which Bishop is yet to plead, will follow alongside.
A man charged with breaching a protection order, Hogan Alexander Kokiri, 49, changed a previous guilty plea to not guilty and elected trial by jury.
He was further remanded on bail for a case review hearing on July 24.
A breach of bail charge, to which Kokiri is yet to plead, will follow alongside.
Legend Taiapa, 19, admitted possessing cannabis for supply, theft from a house (of goods valued between $500 and $1000), and two breaches of bail by failing to attend court. He was further remanded on bail for sentence on September 20.
Taiapa is also expected to apply for a discharge without conviction that day, his lawyer telling the court the amount of cannabis involved in the drug offence would not have triggered the presumption for the supply charge. It was laid due to comments Taiapa volunteered when questioned by police.
Desarae Ruby Biddle was granted electronically-monitored bail to a Wairoa address when she appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit.
Biddle pleaded guilty to five thefts, a breach of supervision, and a breach of bail, by failing to appear.
She was remanded on bail for sentence in Wairoa District Court on August 7.
A report traversing the suitability of an electronically-monitored sentence was ordered.
Tereasa Marie Mitchell pleaded not guilty to unlawfully taking a vehicle (from Ranui, West Auckland), for which she was further remanded in custody for a case review hearing on July 16 in Waitakere District Court.
On a fresh charge of arson, she was further remanded without plea for a registrar’s list on July 1. Her attendance at that fixture was excused.
Charges to which she pleaded guilty — a breach of supervision, a shoplifting offence, and three breaches of bail — will follow alongside.
Mitchell appeared via AV-link from a prison remand unit and was further remanded in custody.
Kellin Teapatu Atkins, 43, admitted breaching supervision and release conditions. He had since re-engaged so was convicted and discharged.
For a ninth drink-drive (600mcg), admitted, Philip Colin Walker, 48, was further remanded on bail until July 29 when he is also due for sentence on other matters.