A Whakatāne man who went on a $13,000 burglary spree while on holiday from Australia has been sentenced to nine months’ home detention.

Tommy Fisher Awawa Tame Taitapanui appeared for sentence in the Whakatāne District Court on Wednesday on charges of aggravated burglary, three counts of burglary, attempted burglary, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of utensils for methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.

The court heard that after arriving in New Zealand in June 2025, Taitapanui hired a rental car and travelled to Whakatāne, where he stayed with whanāu.

After removing the registration plates from the vehicle, he used it to commit several burglaries.

He stole $3000 worth of tools from a residential property and $10,000 worth of tools from a commercial property.

On July 9, he was among a group that targeted Tony Rees Motorcycles at Gateway Drive.

Taitapanui and his co-offenders arrived armed with air rifles and shot out the CCTV. They left, then returned, with Taitapanui staying in the car as lookout while his co-offenders using a cutting disc to force open the main doors. After setting off the alarm, they left.

Taitapanui was said to be motivated to put the offending behind him and had provided $5000 in reparation.

“It’s a shame you returned to New Zealand; you were doing so well in Australia,” Judge Louis Bidois said in sentencing him to home detention.

“For some reason you came back here and go down this path ...  targeting tools to fund drugs and your holiday.”

Inappropriate involvement

A man who involved himself in a conflict between others ended up facing an assault with intent to injure charge.

Nimai Carrington pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 240 hours’ community work.

Judge Louis Bidois ordered he pay $400 emotional harm reparation to his victim.

His lawyer, Rebecca Plunket, said there had been some conflict between the victim and the defendant’s nephew, and Carrington involved himself when he shouldn’t have.

He punched and kneed her, which he acknowledged was inappropriate.

Judge Bidois said the victim suffered multiple laterations that required stitching, along with bruising, and was now frightened of the defendant.

“Carry on behaving like this and you will receive a loss of liberty,” the judge said.

Good behaviour bond

Frank Akuhata was sentenced to come up if called upon within six months after pleading guilty to breaching his release conditions.

The court heard he had since re-engaged and was compliant with the conditions, which were due to end in May.

Judge Bidois told Akuhata it should not take a prosecution to get him to engage.

“The purpose of release conditions is to try to help you with your problems. You are now reporting – make sure you keep complying.”

Interlock angst

A Rotoma woman who received an alcohol interlock sentence in 2018, but has not managed to complete the sentence, will receive a final chance.

Toni Marlene-Ann Takiwa, 45, appeared for sentence review in relation to a charge of driving contrary to an alcohol interlock licence.

Lawyer Steve Franklin said she had been sentenced to the interlock in 2018 but had never got through the process, instead breaching the licence several times by driving with small amounts of alcohol on her breath.

Judge Bidois noted the alcohol levels recorded in the breaches were 54 and 69 micrograms, and why breaches of her interlock licence would not have triggered charges for a driver with a standard licence.

Mr Franklin said Takiwa was on the cusp of going to prison if she did not sort her life out, but he did not think sentencing her to prison now would be appropriate.

Judge Bidois remanded her for sentence on March 18 and ordered a home detention report and an application to cancel her interlock licence.

Meat cleaver threat

A Whakatāne man used a meat cleaver to scare a group of people he said attacked him outside a bar in November.

The court heard that Haupai Lucas had travelled from Ōhope to Whakatāne with some mates. They’d had a couple of drinks and there was a group of people standing outside a bar looking for trouble.

They singled Lucas out and attacked him, so he took out a meat cleaver to scare them away.

Lawyer Alexandra Dawick said the defendant knew he shouldn’t have had the meat cleaver, was compliant with police and handed over the weapon.

Judge Bidois questioned if Lucas was going to town to have a good time, what made him take a meat cleaver?

“If you are going for a good time, you should expect no trouble. Why did you think you would be getting into trouble?

He sentenced him to 200 hours of community work.

Opportunist theft

While visiting a Rotorua medical centre, Camille Edwards stole car keys and drove himself home in a $35,000 Nissan Navara.

The 50-year-old Ōpōtiki man pleaded guilty to unlawful taking, possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis and breaching his release conditions when he appeared in court.

Judge Bidois outlined how Edwards had gone to Lakes PrimeCare for legitimate reasons, but while there took a bag in which there were car keys. He then went outside and discovered which car they started, and took it.

The theft was captured on CCTV and police recognised Edwards.

They found the car parked in Edwards’ driveway. At the same time, they found some cannabis and cannabis plants.

Lawyer Rebecca Plunket said the cannabis plants were seedlings and dying. The cannabis was low grade and for his personal use.

“You would’ve thought you were a better grower than that,” Judge Bidois said in sentencing him to six months’ prison.

New charges

Cleveland Helles Hiroki was refused bail and remanded in custody when he appeared on two charges of assault with a spade and obstructing the course of justice.

The obstruction charge relates to Hiroki allegedly making a false statement in August to prevent an associate being arrested for a driving offence.

He was remanded in custody to reappear via audio visual link on March 12.

The 30-year-old Gisborne man has already pleaded guilty to a raft of other charges, including wilful damage, speaking threateningly, receiving, failing to stop and a breach of bail. He will be sentenced on these charges on April 9.

Bail refused

Paora Anaru Rangihika, 34, of Whakatāne was refused bail on charges of assault with a car door, assault on a child, common assault, speaking threateningly and breach of bail.

He will next appear on February 25.

Too few questions

Jayduse Kesomi Sioeli Pangia Heka realises he should have been more curious about whether a vehicle was stolen.

The 20-year-old originally faced a charge of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle but police reduced this to a charge of receiving.

His lawyer, Lisa Ebbers, said Heka realised that when he saw the smashed window and that the car had to be started by alternative means, he should have asked more questions.

He was fined $400.

Prison for sexual assault

A man who supplied cannabis to a minor and then indecently assaulted her, has been sentenced to prison.

Judge Bidois sentenced Lance Robinson, 51, to 24 months in prison with leave to substitute the sentence with a sentence to be served at an approved residential rehabilitation facility.

The court heard that Robinson shared a cannabis cigarette with a student. The indecent assault involved “violence with sexual overtones”.

As a result, the girl now struggled to concentrate at school and found it hard to trust people.

The judge said he sensed that Robinson was at a “crossroads of life” and that he had some victim empathy and understanding of his actions.

He ordered Robinson to pay $500 emotional harm reparation to the victim.

On release, Robinson will be subject to six months of release conditions.

Prison for violence

Judge Bidois declined a counsel request to adjorn sentencing of Teepa Tewhenua, saying this was the fifth attempt to sentence him.

Tewhenua, 46, appeared for sentence on charges of assault with intent to injure, assault on a child and breach of a protection order dating back to August 2024.

The offending occurred after the victim confronted Tewhenua about spending their food money on methamphetamine.

The violence included slamming her arm in a door and punching her about 10 times in the head.

A witness who intervened was also punched.

In another incident, during an argument, he grabbed the victim by the arm, pulled her to the couch and sat on her, holding her down for some time.

Tewhenua was sentenced to 11 months in prison, with leave given to apply for home detention.

He will be credited for the time already spent in custody.

Case review

Ōtakiri man Kadence Moana was remanded to April 4 when he appeared for case review on charges of burglary with a weapon, failing to stop, wounding with intent to injure, presenting a firearm and three counts of driving dangerously. The charges are being brought by the Crown.

The 18-year-old also faces two police matters – receiving a $10,000 Ford Courier ute and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle – which were remanded to the same date for him to enter a plea.

Co-offender Thirteen Kahukiwa Welsh faces two charges of wounding with intent to injure and common assault, and will also appear for case review on April 29.

Breach of trust

Renee Bonita Soutar will appear on May 13 for sentence for a burglary her lawyer described as low level and opportunist.

Lawyer Steve Franklin said Soutar was under the influence of substances at the time and had since given the stolen item back.

Judge Bidois said the theft involved a breach of trust, with the victim of the theft being a man who had tried to help the 46-year-old.

“You go and burgle the place and then you go out on the street and do a haka and the police get called because you are out of it,” the judge said.

Unnecessary weapons

A 36-year-old Kawerau man has been sentenced to community work after pleading guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a pipe for smoking methamphetamine and displaying gang insignia in the form of a Mongrel Mob cap.

In sentencing Michael Tuhi Webb to 270 hours’ community work, Judge Bidois questioned why – when he was subject to release conditions – he would have a hammer under his vehicle seat, a knife in the passenger door and an altered screwdriver in the driver’s door.

“Those are there for use if there is a fracas. They are not there as part of the car.”

Emotional harm reparation ordered

Taylor Gordon was sentenced to community work and supervision, and ordered to pay emotional harm reparation to his two victims.

The 26-year-old appeared for sentence on a charge of speaking threateningly and two counts of assault on a person in a family relationship.
A presentence report noted his minimal criminal history but long history of personal trauma.

He was sentenced to 160 hours’ community work, 12 months’ intensive supervision, and ordered to pay $120 emotional harm reparation for each assault.