Mum stands by chainsaw rampage accused

A woman whose son has been charged with setting out on a rampage with a chainsaw says she stands by him.

Kaleb Travis, 25, has been charged after dramatic scenes at his mother's Hikurangi home last week.

He allegedly cut through the front door, then through a pole, causing the veranda to collapse, before slicing through a front gate and a takeaway sign. Police claim the hi-revving onslaught began with a dispute over a box of Steinlager beer.

It is also alleged he pushed his mother against a wall and pulled out a knife before being arrested.

Luana Travis said the allegations were "blown out of proportion".

"I support my son. He just got angry because the people that were in the house were undesirables and his box of beer had gone missing. He over-reacted. The veranda fell down because it was rotten," she said.

She called police because she was worried about her son, not because she was afraid of him.

"The chainsaw stalled and I grabbed it. I never felt threatened," she said.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said she saw a young man with a chainsaw "going choppo".

Landlady Jennifer Timperley said the damage to the property would cost about $4000.

Travis appeared in Whangarei District Court and was bailed without plea to reappear on August 17.