Increased security for court appearance

A courtroom was closed to the public and added security put in place for the first appearances of eight men, including one who has been charged with attempted murder.

The men appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday facing a raft of charges relating to two incidents - one on December 11 and one on December 15.

George Robert Jolley, 24, was charged with attempted murder in relation to an incident in Western Heights last Friday that Judge Maree Mackenzie described as a "gang shoot-out".

Two men were hospitalised following the incident, one with critical injuries. He is currently in a stable condition in Waikato Hospital while the other has been discharged.

Jolley was remanded in custody without entering a plea until his next appearance in the High Court at Rotorua on January 20.

Daniel Tere McMeeking, 25, Cramer Tana McMeeking, 24, and Chadwick Tamahou Matapuku, 27, were jointly charged with participating in an organised criminal group, among other firearm, weapon and drug charges.

All three men were remanded in custody without entering pleas.

As Daniel McMeeking left the courtroom he stared down Judge Mackenzie. She immediately ordered him back and police and security staff rushed to recall him from the cells. Scuffling and shouting could be heard from the courtroom.

She said she was "not going to put up with intimidation by a gang member ... He can not intimidate the court in the way he did."

She allowed Daniel McMeeking to be stood down when he was unable to be retrieved.

Thomas Albert Reginald Te Aho, 46, Peter William Smith, 26, Grant Mokai McMeeking, 59, and Shane Temana Wallace, 34, also made appearances.

Smith pleaded not guilty to one charge of possession of firearms and was remanded in custody.

Grant McMeeking pleaded not guilty to possession of firearms and one charge of carrying explosives namely ammunition.

Police opposed Grant McMeeking's bail application stating gang tension was still high in the area and there was a risk of interference with witnesses.

Defence lawyer Martin Hine argued he was "not a person to be involved himself in criminal activity and had no gang affiliation".

Judge Mackenzie denied bail stating there was a need to protect the public, "particularly given the strong gang overtones".

Wallace was the only one in the group to be granted bail.

Charges:
George Robert Jolley:
Attempted murder
Participation in an organised criminal group
Possession of a firearm
Chadwick Tamahou Matapuku:
Participation in an organised criminal group
Possession of an offensive weaponnamely a hockey stick
Cramer Tana McMeeking:
Participation in an organised criminal group
Possession of an offensive weapon
Possession of firearms
Damage to a vehicle
Daniel Tere McMeeking:
Participation in an organised criminal group
Possession of cannabis
Possession of firearms
Grant Mokai McMeeking:
Possession of firearms
Carrying explosive namely ammunition
Thomas Albert Reginald Te Aho:
Possession of firearms
Shane Temana Wallace:
Possession of firearms
Peter William Smith:
Possession of firearms