Ranger says he's the target of drunks

Rene Ranger. Photo / Northern Advocate

Rene Ranger doesn't back away from a fight, but he might have to.

In November he goes on trial in the Whangarei District Court charged with injuring with intent to injure after an alleged assault in Mangawhai a year ago.

The victim claims he lost two front teeth and needed stitches.

Ranger maintains his innocence and his father, Roland, says an associate of the injured man inflicted the injuries.

But Ranger acknowledges he has had his share of scraps and has to learn from them.

"You get it sometimes when you are at a bar or something. Drunk people come up and give you a hard time, but you have to learn to control that," Ranger says. "Now that I have a profile they just try to pick on me."

Roland says his son had a fight in a Matakana pub about three years ago after being hassled. "He had enough so he confronted him. The guy took his shirt off, they had a fight and Rene won."

In another incident Ranger confronted three gang members in Wellsford. "It was some kids at Wellsford who were causing some trouble. I just told them to get lost pretty much, it wasn't anything serious," Ranger says.

Alcohol figures in most of Ranger's altercations.

"I am coping with that stuff a lot better now. But then I was younger and new to everything I guess ... I don't know, but I was defending myself, pretty much, but you are in the media eye now so you can't afford to stuff up. I am actually a happy dude, really."