Flaxmere man denies series of burglaries

Bay View garage J Young Motors was targeted in separate burglaries. Photo / File

A Flaxmere man is defending himself while on trial for a spate of burglaries.

Hurae Makoia Wairau has pleaded not guilty to taking more than $5000 worth of cigarettes and $8000 worth of shearing equipment.

He is on trial in Napier District Court facing five burglary charges, alleged to have occurred between September and October 2014.

Three of the burglaries took place in Hawke's Bay, one in Masterton and the other in Eketahuna.

The Crown alleged Wairau was accompanied by one, or possibly two other people who are also facing separate charges.

Crown prosecutor Jo Rielly urged the jury to consider Wairau's case separately from the co-accused, one of whom was due to be called as a witness by the Crown today.

In her opening address, Mrs Rielly gave details of the alleged burglaries which included "jimmying open" locked doors at Bay View garage J Young Motors, on two separate occasions just 23 days apart where more than $5000 worth of smokes and tobacco were stolen.

Wairau is also accused of breaking into Hire Pool in Hastings where two concrete cutters were taken, one pair was recovered at yet another break in at a Wairarapa PGG Wrightson.

A PGG Wrightson in Eketahuna and Masterton were broken into and $8000 worth of shearing equipment was stolen.

Wairau, 50, is defending himself with assistance of court-appointed amicus, Roger Philip.

Judge Bridget Mackintosh also helped the defendant briefly to deliver his opening address in which he first greeted the jury in te reo Maori. He then said: "Thank you for coming to support me, because that's what you are doing."

"I'm here to fight for my life."

The judge explained to the jury that Wairau meant the crown had a weak case and that he did not commit the burglaries.

The trial continues today.