No silence in the courtroom

A man sang the national anthem in English and Maori from court cells after he was sent down by a judge for being in contempt.

Shortly afterward, Hawera Court was closed for half an hour while Aaron Tipene Tutauha, 47, was removed because he made so much noise thumping the cell that yesterday’s proceedings were disrupted.

Tutauha, 47, had been called to answer charges of refusing to accompany an officer, escaping police custody, failing to stop for a red and blue flashing light and refusing to give a blood sample.

When called, Tutauha refused to enter the body of the court and made a short speech in Maori.

He was asked several times by Judge Chris Sygrove to enter the dock but he refused.

Eventually after several warnings that he was in contempt of court, Judge Sygrove instructed the police to place him in the cells.

As court continued, Tutauha began singing loudly, first the national anthem in English, followed by the same anthem in Maori. He then moved on to other songs and haka, accompanying himself with loud thumping which made the wooden building shake.

Due to the disturbance in the adjoining court room, the court was adjourned at 11.15am so that Tutauha could be moved to the Hawera police station.

Extra police staff stood on the lawn in front of the court when the van went to leave, but it moved off without incident.

Outside the court two supporters of Tutauha spoke with police.

One of them was Patricia Green, whose case was the catalyst for a protest that closed the Hawera Courthouse on March 1, 2016. Police prosecutor sergeant Steve Hickey said Tutauha would remain in the police station cells until being recalled at the end of the day.

This was Tutauha’s second appearance on these charges and he refused to enter the dock on the first time also.

The court office remained closed to the public after court resumed at 10.45am.