Man accused of having two wives

Rodney Peach. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland man is facing court action for allegedly having two wives.

Rodney Peach, 52, faces charges of committing bigamy and of knowing a document including details of marriage to be forged.

Court documents said he "went through a form of marriage with Trisha Faiainoa and therefore committed bigamy".

Peach, who is originally from South Africa, appeared in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday and has been bailed to an address in Botany Downs until his next court appearance on January 10.

In an email to APNZ, Peach said he had asked his lawyer to seek immediate name suppression and that "any attempt to publish any of the details of the case which may in any way identify any of the parties involved will be in contravention of this and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law".

His lawyer, Jeremy Sutton, said: "My client doesn't want me to comment on this."

A man at the Botany Downs address where Peach is living said he knew Peach from working with him at an East Auckland food company.

The company's managing director confirmed he had been Peach's boss, but refused to comment further.

Court documents listed Peach's job as a property developer.

His Australia-based daughter Sascha-Maria Peach, 19, was shocked to learn her father had allegedly remarried.

She confirmed he and her mother, Tania, who is also based in Australia, had separated. "I just found out about it recently that they separated in the last few months."

Auckland University family law expert Pauline Tapp said under the Marriage Act, people must swear they are single when filling in a marriage licence application.