Kaitaia backpack lodge owner Michael Harris charged with indecent assault

Michael Harris. Picture / NZME.

A Kaitaia backpack lodge owner who is facing multiple charges of offending against male guests was granted bail when he appeared before Judge Keith de Ridder in the Kaitaia District Court today.

Michael Harris's lawyer Doug Blaikie unsuccessfully sought a suppression order covering all further appearances until he goes to trial.

Eighty-eight of the original 90 charges against Harris, 56, were withdrawn and 49 new ones were laid.

He now faces 12 counts of stupefying, nine of making and nine of possessing intimate visual recordings, one of attempted aggravated wounding, and 20 of indecent assault.

Mr Blaikie sought a total suppression order over future proceedings prior to trial in response to an application from TV3 to film the hearing, claiming much of the coverage given to his client's charges so far had been sensationalist and inaccurate.

The application for filming was granted.

Judge de Ridder said he was satisfied that the risk of flight, re-offending and interfering with witnesses could be met with bail conditions, while the charges were unlikely to go to trial until well into next year, if not considerably later.

Bail was granted on conditions Harris live at an Auckland address, have no contact or connection with complainants, observe a curfew, not travel north of Warkworth unless to attend court or counsel, surrender his passports, not possess any camera, including a camera-equipped cell phone, or any device capable of accessing the internet or social media, not apply for any form of travel document and not have anyone stay at the bail address overnight.

Harris will next appear in Kaitaia on November 12.