Pua Magasiva e appeared in the North Shore District Court this morning. Photo / Doug Sherring
Shortland Street star Pua Magasiva has pleaded guilty to drink driving.
Magasiva appeared in the North Shore District Court this morning and has been remanded on bail for sentencing on March 28 next year.
His lawyer has requested community service.
Judge Simon Maude asked for a probation report to be brought to sentencing.
Magasiva is a breakfast host on NZME's Flava radio station.
He is also an actor and is best known for his role as nurse Vinnie Kruse on long-running Kiwi soap Shortland Street.
Hayden Hare, content director for Flava, said he didn't condone Magasiva's behaviour but as it happened in his personal time he had no control over what happened.
"NZME puts everything in place to provide safety measures for our staff. Unfortunately this happened outside of work time."
Hare always made sure staff drinking at work-related functions took an Uber or taxi, or had another safe way of getting home, he said.
"I don't condone [drink driving] in the slightest, we don't encourage it and we take these things seriously."
A spokeswoman for Magasiva's Shortland Street employer, South Pacific Productions, echoed an earlier statement on behalf of the company.
"South Pacific Pictures does not condone Pua's actions, but we will be supporting him through the process of dealing with the consequences."
The original charge sheet alleged that on October 31 Magasiva had had a blood alcohol test after being stopped by police. It alleged he had 596 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milligrams of blood in his system. But police later said they had made an error on the charge sheet, and in fact the reading was breath alcohol - not blood alcohol.
Magasiva declined to comment outside court today but after his first appearance last month, said there were "no excuses" for his behaviour.
"Firstly I would like to acknowledge the mistake and error in judgment in making the decision to drive under the influence," he said.
"I am so fortunate that no one was injured as a result.
"I fully own up to my mistake and accept the consequences of my actions.
"I am sincerely sorry for putting my family, especially my daughter and my employers and sponsors in this position.
"I know I have let them down. I am sincerely grateful for their support and thankful they have accepted my apologies."
'He was such a nice chap. He had a word for everybody.'