More accused deny charges stemming from Bay of Plenty police raids

The aftermath of one of the biggest police raids in years is going through Tauranga's Court. Photo/file

Not guilty pleas have been entered by a further 12 people charged following police raids focused on the Eastern Bay of Plenty last month.

Judge David Cameron accepted the pleas in the Tauranga District Court yesterday, before remanding them, plus 10 other accused, to June 29 for a case review hearing.

All the accused have elected trial by jury.

The June 29 hearing in Tauranga will see everyone arrested after the raids either appearing in person if they were on bail, or by a video link if they were remanded in custody.

The raids were carried out in Kawerau and the wider Eastern Bay of Plenty as part of a police operation called Operation Notus.

Dean Karaitiana, 50, denied 10 charges involving methamphetamine and cannabis plus a charge of wounding with intend to cause grievous bodily harm. He has been remanded in custody, with an application for bail likely to be advanced to the court prior to June 29.

Michael Wright of Kawerau denied three charges involving methamphetamine and one charge of threatening to kill or doing grievous bodily harm. Judge Cameron was told that Wright could also seek bail prior to June 29.

Bradley Allan Beard, 27, denied seven methamphetamine and cannabis charges and pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of breaching a community work order. Judge Cameron ruled against an application for bail advanced by lawyer Simon Whitehead.

Bail was not opposed for Dovi Terangikatuku Chisholm, 38, who denied two methamphetamine charges. His bail was subject to a 24-hour-a-day curfew to a Whakatane address and he was not to associate with the people named in his bail bond.

Arahia Mary Parker, 27, denied 14 methamphetamine and cannabis charges. She had been remanded on bail.

Trevor Parker denied 14 methamphetamine and cannabis charges. He has filed an electronically monitored bail application. His wife Jacqueline Donna Parker, 44, who was on bail, has denied one charge of engaging in money laundering.

Rangitupukiwaho Kevin Burgess, 33, denied three methamphetamine charges and Anahera Iopata, 40, denied two charges of engaging in money laundering transactions. Iopata has been released on bail.

James Tomairangi Burgess, 33, who has denied three methamphetamine charges, was on bail.

Nicole Ryder, who had been bailed to Kawerau, was remanded with a default plea of not guilty until her lawyer David Bates was able to take instructions. She faced two methamphetamine charges.

Hamilton-based Leo Papuni denied two cannabis charges.

The 10 other accused remanded yesterday to June 29 on drugs charges were Chad Chisholm, 37, Demelza Lorraine Chisholm, 37, Jason Iopata, 44, Noho Tuaka, 32, Michael Paul Burrell, 41, Inia Curry, 47, Charles Drummond, 64, Vaina Drummond, Whitney Drummond and Mark Guptil, 43.They had already pleaded to their charges.

Further accused with charges stemming from the police raids were due to appear in Tauranga District Court today.