Gisborne District Court news

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A Gisborne man caught up in a Hawke's Bay police drug operation Casino will appear in court there on charges arising.

John James Stuart Atkins, 40, has pleaded not guilty to supplying and conspiring to deal methamphetamine, arising out of alleged offending in Hastings between December, last year, and January, this year.

Judge Turitea Bolstad granted a Crown application to transfer the charges to Napier District Court and scheduled Atkins for a case review hearing there on October 9.

Atkins also faces a further drug charge not related to the Hawkes Bay ones.

To that charge, alleging possession of methamphetamine for supply, he has also pleaded not guilty.

He was scheduled for a case review hearing in Gisborne District Court on October 8.

Gerald Brenton Aranui, 56, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis, possessing cannabis, and possession of a cannabis bong.

He was sentenced to 80 hours community work.

Counsel Elliot Lynch said the amount of the drug involved was minimal and aligned with amounts set out in the lowest band of a tariff case.

Aranui had a limited criminal history and no previous convictions for this type of offending. He had not been before the court for 30 years, that last time being for a drink-driving offence.

Mr Lynch suggested a sentence of community work and supervision.

Prosecutor Steve Manning said given Aranui's age and the significant gap since his last offence, supervision was unnecessary.

Mr Manning said there was some background to this case. Aranui was drawn in as part of proceedings in which his son-in-law pleaded guilty to more serious charges.

Linton Puka Morrell, 35, labourer, pleaded guilty to wilful damage after the Crown was granted leave to withdraw charges of threatening to do grievous bodily harm and unlawfully getting into a vehicle.

He was convicted and discharged. Judge Bolstad said that outcome took into account time Morrell previously spent on remand in custody on all the charges.

Charged with wounding with intent to injure or with reckless disregard, and two charges of assault with a weapon, Cody Hoff McBride, 35, pleaded not guilty.

McBride was found fit to plead after a series of specialist mental health reports.

He was further remanded in custody to appear via AV-link for a Crown case review hearing on November 13.