Gisborne District Court news

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

A brain injury patient has admitted criminal charges, following an incident with a rehabilitation worker.

Dan Raniera Te Heuheu Robinson, pleaded guilty in Gisborne District Court to assaulting a female, common assault, wilful damage, and a breach of bail. Robinson was further remanded on bail for sentence on February 5.

Judge Cathcart ordered a specialist dispositional health report, in which an expert clinician will make recommendations as to the most appropriate sentencing outcome.

A pre-sentence report traversing the suitability of electronically-monitored sentence options was also ordered.

Counsel Heather Vaughn said Robinson disputes part of the police summary of the offending alleging he punched the female assault complainant in the mouth.

The incident occurred in the community, not at a rehabilitation centre as originally stated in The Gisborne Herald's print edition.

Jordan Dexter Hungahunga, who faces charges arising out of an alleged family harm incident was refused simple bail and further remanded in custody.

Hungahunga has pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury on the charges — wounding with reckless disregard, strangulation, and breach of a protection order.

He was further remanded in custody for a case review hearing in Wairoa District Court on December 4. He is expected to apply for electronically-monitored meantime.

Mautini Allen, 25, entered pleas to eight charges and was granted electronically-monitored bail.

On four charges to which he pleaded guilty — unlicensed driving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a meth pipe, and possession of cannabis — Allen will be sentenced in Gisborne on February 5.

He was granted electronically-monitored bail to a Napier address.

Four charges arising out of alleged offending in Mangere, and to which Allen pleaded not guilty, will be called for a case review hearing in the Manukau District Court on December 3.

Those charges are assault on a person in family relationship, two breaches of a protection order, and intentional damage.

Charged with rape and other allegations arising out of an alleged family violence, James Robert Thomson, 30, shearer, pleaded not guilty to all but one charge.

He was granted electronically-monitored bail and remanded for a case review hearing on February 7.

In addition to the rape, the charges he denies are two of assault on a person in a family relationship and three breaches of a protection order.

The charge he admitted was another of breaching a protection order.

Counsel Nicola Wright said the issue in the rape allegation was consent.