Nikau yet to enter plea on assault

Tawera Nikau, leaving Huntly District Court yesterday, was bailed to reappear on March 13. Photo / Christine Cornege

Former rugby league star Tawera Nikau made a brief appearance in Huntly District Court yesterday over an alleged assault on his daughter.

Dressed in shorts, Nikau smiled and was friendly to a number of locals who greeted him as he walked into the court.

The 45-year-old, who is now chief executive of Aotearoa Construction Ltd, was in the court for a matter of minutes before he was bailed to reappear on March 13.

He is yet to enter a plea to the charge of male assaults female.

The charge stems from an incident outside the Huntly police station on Friday when Nikau is alleged to have jumped out of his car and grabbed his daughter Heaven-Leigh around the neck.

Heaven-Leigh reportedly fell to the ground before going into the station, where she laid the complaint. Nikau drove away from the scene but was charged later that day.