A judge has called those who refuse to take a blood alcohol test arrogant.

Tiaki Aaron Desmond D'Arcy Tume appeared in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to refusing to give a blood specimen, having been convicted twice of the same offence.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Butler told the court Tume was stopped by police on April 8 because of the manner of his driving and refused to take a blood alcohol test when requested to.

"He did not offer an explanation."

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Lawyer Harete Hipango said Tume had received legal advice to make no comment, which was what the refusal was. Judge David Cameron said Tume would be dealt with more harshly than if he had taken the test.

"There is an arrogance about people who refuse to provide things like blood specimens. To simply act this way is arrogant," he said.

"(It is also) depriving the court of knowing, of course, what your actual blood alcohol (level) was at the time."

Tume was sentenced to 120 hours community work and disqualified from driving for one year.