Maori King's son admits theft

Korotangi Paki , son the Maori King Tuheitia, leaves the Auckland District Court. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The son of Maori King Tuheitia Paki pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court this morning to two charges of burglary and one of theft from a car.

Korotangi Paki, 18, had dropped an initial request for name suppression, and was bailed to reappear in July for sentencing.

Lawyer Paul Wicks said the offending was minor and Paki was appearing for the first time. The new sentencing date would give time for him to address some matters concerning the victims, Wicks said.

Paki was drinking with three co-accused in Kaiti, Gisborne, on March 18.

The defendants drove to the Top Ten Holiday Park where they stole two $800 surfboards which belonged to Whakatane High School, according to the police summary of facts.

One defendant returned a surf board when stopped by a member of the public. The second surfboard was placed by Paki in a car the group were using.

They then stole $650 of goods from the boot of a vehicle parked in a man's driveway, and drove metres down the road where they stole another surfboard from a garage.

The four defendants admitted the thefts to police.