Former Highlanders player Taumua Naeata on bail over multiple sex charges

A former Highlanders rugby player can now be named as the defendant facing multiple sex charges after losing name suppression.

Taumua Lui Naeata, 32, appeared in the Dunedin District Court in March last year facing six sexual violation charges, all relating to a single alleged event on December 8, 2024.

Naeata’s identity had been suppressed since his initial appearance.

The Court of Appeal confirmed Naeata did not lodge an application to challenge a decision declining continued name suppression, meaning his interim suppression has now lapsed.

Naeata previously entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

He remains on bail ahead of a trial, likely to take place later this year.

Naeata signed with the Highlanders last season, marking his first Super Rugby contract.

He had briefly turned out for Otago the previous year and has played professionally in Japan since 2018.

Born in Tonga, Naeata attended Tonga College before moving to Japan, where he studied at Ryutsu Keizai University.

He played four seasons in the All-Japan University Rugby Championship between 2014 and 2017.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.