Date set for four week hearing into charges against Field

MP Taito Phillip Field. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Four weeks in April have been set aside for evidence to be presented on 40 criminal charges laid against Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field.

Field faces 15 charges of bribery - which required approval from the High Court before police could lay them due to his status as an MP - and 25 charges of obstructing or perverting the course of justice.

The charges arise out of allegations made against Field over work done on properties he owned by Thai immigrants seeking to stay in New Zealand and over information he gave a subsequent inquiry.

A Manukau District Court hearing today set the date for the beginning of the four week depositions hearing for April 7.

The date and the duration will be confirmed at a pre-depositions hearing before the same court on March 12.

Pictures taken of Field in the dock at court last month can also now be published after he decided not to challenge the right to show him in court.

Manukau District Court judge Charles Blackie last month declined his application not to have his picture taken in court but images were suppressed after his lawyer Paul Dacre said he would seek to challenge the ruling.

Mr Dacre said the suppression was sought while Field was awaiting a Court of Appeal decision on a High Court ruling allowing police to lay the bribery charges against him.

The Court of Appeal ruled there was no jurisdiction for Field's appeal to be heard but though Field has appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court, Mr Dacre said he chose not to pursue the opposition to the court pictures being used.

Mr Dacre said submissions had been made by Field and the Crown to the Supreme Court. He said no date for any related hearing or decision has been set.

- NZPA