Ni-Vanuatu RSE worker pleads not guilty to Pukehina orchard murder

The accused has interim name suppression and will appear in the High Court on February 18. Photo / Alex Cairns

By Kaya Selby of RNZ

A Ni-Vanuatu migrant worker has pleaded not guilty to murdering a woman on a kiwifruit orchard in the Bay of Plenty.

The 50-year-old man, who has interim name suppression, is accused of murdering a female Ni-Vanuatu tourist with whom he was in a family relationship.

He appeared briefly in the Tauranga District Court on Friday.

The woman was found dead on New Year’s Day at Cameron Orchards in Pukehina, where the defendant worked. Police were called to the Old Coach Road address about 3pm.

Less than 12 hours later, Adam Nauka, a migrant worker, was found dead on the same property.

Both workers were employed in New Zealand under a Recognised Seasonal Employee (RSE) visa, and were visiting on a tourist visa.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson announced last night that police had filed a murder charge in place of a simple assault charge relating to the death of the woman.

A Vanuatu country liaison told RNZ Pacific that Nauka passed away as the result of a medical issue.

In court this morning, defence lawyer John Wayne applied for interim name suppression for his client to continue until his scheduled High Court appearance on February 18.

-RNZ