High-profile sportsman who allegedly injured police dog will keep identity under wraps

Monday, 27 July 2026

A high-profile sportsman who allegedly injured a police dog and resisted police will keep his identity under wraps for now.

The man appeared in Wellington District Court on Monday morning. He faces charges of assault with intent to injure, injuring a police dog, resisting police, and causing loss by deception.

According to the charging document, the obtaining by deception charge involved a sum of $36.

Police said the charges stem from an incident in Rongotai in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Neither the alleged victim of the loss by deception nor the police dog required treatment for any injuries, police said.

The accused man was treated in hospital for injuries sustained by a police dog during the course of his arrest.

Outside court, RNZ reported that a reporter filming the man was struck in the face after one of two woman accompanying him attempted to grab the reporter's phone to stop them from filming.

A Post visual journalist said a woman shouted at him as he took photos. Security then escorted the sportsman and the women away, taking them around the side of the building.

The man’s lawyer Phil Mitchell sought a remand without plea until August 17. His client was granted interim name suppression until a hearing in October.

“He has the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial, publication [of his name] could impact the right to fair trial,” Mitchell said.

And, Mitchell added, the man had “business interests” which would be “heavily impacted” if his identity was made public.

“He has one occupation and his ability to engage in that occupation should publication take place would be adversely affected.”

The police were “neutral” on the suppression.

Judge Ian Carter said there was an arguable case for interim suppression. This would be discussed at a hearing in October.