A man alleged to have been involved in a brawl at the Rehab nightclub in November 2023 has been given a stern warning for breaching bail conditions. Poutapu Maretu appeared before Justice of the Peace John Whitta on Thursday last week for two counts of contempt of court, having allegedly entered a liquor-licensed premises.

Crown Law’s senior prosecutor Jamie Crawford opposed bail, stating that the accused was found in a liquor-licenced premises on December 22, breaching his bail condition ordered by Justice Christine Grice.

Crawford argued that if bail were granted, a stricter condition with a warning should be imposed.

Maretu’s legal representative, Lavi Rokoika, entered not guilty pleas to both contempt charges through an audio-visual link.

Rokoika requested that the matter be dealt with alongside the substantive charges: injuring with intent, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of assaulting police.

She suggested that if bail were granted, a curfew condition could be imposed to keep Maretu in line while awaiting trial.

In granting bail, JP Whitta sternly warned the accused: “If you breach again and I will see each other again.”

He emphasised that bail is not a game, and any further breach would not be tolerated by the court.

Maretu is to continue residing in Upper Tupapa and is on curfew from 6pm to 7am.

The matter was adjourned to February next year for a call over, with March 8, 2024, as a likely hearing date.

The accused is one of 11 men charged in relation to a fight at Rehab on Wednesday night, November 8, where two stabbings were reported, multiple people including Rehab staff were injured, and additional police were needed to bring the situation under control.