Rioting charges over officer attack

Eight people have appeared on rioting charges after a lone Taranaki police officer was pelted with rocks and missiles.

Police were called to Opunake about 9.30pm on Wednesday after trouble erupted in the Allison and King streets area.

A group of up to 18 youths had smashed the windows in a car, hurled rocks at houses and set a lawnmower alight during an hour-long spree, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

When Constable Danny Giles arrived and tried to stop them assaulting a man they turned on him.

"They were throwing rocks and missiles, none of them hit me or the police car, they just landed around me," he said.

Extra police including a dog handler were called in from New Plymouth, Hawera and Opunake.

Police made eight arrests and were looking for three other people.

Ricky Barry Cecil Rampton, 19, unemployed, Barry James Bishop-Lister, 18, Bob Mareiti Mare, 29, labourer, and Lennon Charles Lowe, 22, farm worker, all of Opunake, have been charged with assaulting Brendon Harris and rioting.

Dylan Cosmo James, 17, Casey Meihana Rewa, 20, unemployed, Adam Lewis Smith, 22, farm hand of Opunake, and Paul James Harrop, 38, all of Opunake, have been charged solely with rioting.

The rarely used charge of rioting carries a maximum sentence of three months' jail or a $2000 fine.

When the group appeared in New Plymouth District Court yesterday, police described them as a "curse on the town".

They are due back in court in Hawera on August 18.

- NZPA