Assault charge rapper Joey Bada$$ allowed to tour NZ

Rapper Joey Bada$$ is allowed to play in New Zealand this weekend.

New York rapper Joey Bada$$ will be allowed to tour New Zealand despite being charged with assaulting a security guard in Australia.

The 19-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Jalani Virginie, allegedly punched the guard in the face after being asked to provide ID at the Falls Music Festival near Byron Bay last Friday.

A Byron Bay police spokeswoman told the Sydney Morning Herald that the security guard was treated for a broken nose and other facial injuries.

Bada$$ was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He appeared at Lismore Bail Court on Saturday and has been bailed to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on March 19.

In a statement, Bada$$'s representative Bradley Bledsoe said: "Joey can confirm that there was a misunderstanding with security at the Byron Falls Festival show, which resulted in charges being laid.

"After fully cooperating with police, Joey was granted bail and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge."

Bada$$ is due to perform with Run the Jewels at the James Cabaret in Wellington on January 9 and at Studio in Auckland on January 10.

Despite the charge, he won't be prevented from entering the country, Immigration New Zealand spokeswoman Rachel Purdom confirmed.

"Immigration New Zealand does not plan to cancel Joey Bada$$'s visa or decline him entry to New Zealand," she said.

"As far as INZ is aware he does not have criminal convictions which would exclude him coming to New Zealand."

Last February, Immigration NZ banned LA rap group Odd Future from entering the country to support Eminem at his Western Springs show after the agency deemed the group to be a threat to the public.

Documents later released under the Official Information Act revealed border operations manager Karen Urwin hoped the decision would result in a positive news story for the the government agency.

Immigration NZ had said the group were banned because they were deemed "to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence".