A Rotorua judge has ordered a man's work tools and golf clubs be destroyed - despite his claims they were not weapons.
Peter Bilton Clifford, 59, pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court to possession of offensive weapons in a public place, namely Thomas Cr in Rotorua.
According to the police summary of facts, Clifford, his two sons and a nephew travelled from Putaruru to Rotorua on the evening of August 15 to speak to associates about "financial issues".
They anticipated the talks "may not go smoothly" and that violence was possible so in the car they had a baseball bat, cricket bat, golf clubs, pry bar and a garden rake.
Talks broke down and ended with the defendant brandishing the weapons before police were called.