Shot actor too sick to hear new charges

Police at the scene where Auckland actor Rob Mokaraka was shot by police in Pt Chevalier in July. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A man shot in the chest by police after allegedly rushing at them with a weapon was charged with further offences yesterday but did not appear at his court hearing because of illness.

Rob Mokaraka, 36, of Pt Chevalier, was originally charged with threatening to kill and using a firearm to resist arrest following the incident at his home on July 27.

Yesterday, he was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and assault with a weapon. The new charges each carry a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment.

Judge Nicola Mathers, sitting in the Auckland District Court, said a medical certificate excused Mokaraka from appearing. She remanded him on bail until late next month.

Mokaraka's mother, Julie Mokaraka, said he was suffering from an infection and was not well enough to attend court.

She said she had taken two weeks off work to support her son, adding that the 36-year-old had suffered a setback in his recovery and was having "a bit of a hard time" in Auckland City Hospital.

Mokaraka, an actor, was due to appear in court in relation to the incident where he allegedly engineered his own shooting.

Police say Mokaraka made a 111 call describing himself as an agitated man. When officers arrived he lunged at them with a meat cleaver and a bundle of knives hidden beneath a blanket. He was shot in the chest by police.

Mrs Mokaraka said that her son had required more surgery a fortnight ago.

"I'm not sure what it was for, but he had an operation to repair something that needed repairing ... He's probably going to be in hospital for a while longer."

She did not know when he would be fit for discharge.