Rapper Scribe granted bail but judge warns it's his 'last chance'

The embattled rapper was the subject of a public police hunt yesterday after he failed to appear in Christchurch District Court.

Scribe has been granted bail but warned it's his last chance and if he breaches conditions he will be arrested.

The New Zealand rapper, real name Malo Ioane Luafutu, appeared in the Porirua District Court today charged with weapon and drug offences.

On Wednesday morning Canterbury police appealed on Facebook for the public's help locating Luafutu. He contacted police himself yesterday afternoon and agreed to appear in court today.

While the hip-hop artist had tried to dodge media outside court by putting on sunglasses, a hood, and zipping his jacket up to his nose, he cut a more subdued figure as he stood quietly in the court dock.

Malo Luafutu, aka Scribe, arriving at the Porirua District Court ahead of his appearance on drug and weapons charges. Photo / Marty Melville

His lawyer asked for the warrant for Scribe's arrest to be withdrawn, and suggested a new court date for weapons and drugs charges be set as soon as next week in the Christchurch District Court.

Duty lawyer Jewelly McVay asked for Luafutu to be released on bail.

"It's not a situation where he's been absconding from his responsibilities.

"He's essentially been stuck in the wider Wellington region as a result of his sickness benefit being cut."

McVay said Luafutu hadn't had a lawyer in Christchurch to tell the court why he wasn't there.

She said the past week had been "incredibly traumatic" for him, and the prospect of any further publicity would ensure he turned up to court when he said he would.

Police opposed bail and asked for Luafutu to be held in custody until the charges against him could be heard tomorrow.

Judge James Johnston granted bail, but warned it was a last chance.

He said Luafutu had to get to Christchurch by August 21, stay at a designated bail address, and not take any illegal drugs.

Judge Johnston then set a new court date for the Christchurch District Court of August 22.

He warned Luafutu that if he broke his bail conditions, or didn't appear for his next court date, he would likely be taken into custody.