Nine men accused of rioting and wounding offences have denied the allegations, with eight heading to a jury trial.
They were among those arrested after what police alleged was a “gang-related” brawl on Maunganui Rd on June 21.
Nine defendants appeared in court in Tauranga on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to joint charges of rioting and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in a Tauranga court yesterday.
Those defendants are Jesse Wiheti Fisher, 38, from Matapihi; Lake Kaimoana, 24, from Tauranga; Paul Frederick Carmichael, 44, of Brookfield, Teina Eremiha Matiaha, 35, of Mount Maunganui; William Grant Palmer, 42, from Matakana; Carlton Jon Paki, 36, from Pāpāmoa Beach, Tipene Guy Oti, 33, from Gate Pa; Maurice Te Barry Walker, 54, from Kairua; and Kereama Walker, 17, from Bethlehem.
Kereama Walker’s case has been transferred from the youth court to the district court, meaning he can now be named.