Man charged with Nelson kidnapping could face more charges

A man charged with kidnapping in Nelson has been remanded in custody for a second time without plea, as he is likely to face further charges.

Cordons were placed across the suburb of Nelson South on 12 August after a stand-off at a residential address on Motueka Street that saw five schools and the hospital placed into lockdown.

A 56-year-old man was [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/524970/man-faces-kidnapping-charge-after-15-hour-police-stand-off-in-nelson

arrested after 15 hours and an operation that involved significant resources], including the Armed Offenders Squad, police negotiators and the Defence Force explosive ordnance disposal team.

The man appeared in the Nelson District Court on Monday, via video from prison, facing charges of kidnapping, threatening to kill and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Defence lawyer Michael Vesty said police had indicated they were likely to lay further charges in relation to the event and he sought a remand without plea, to allow for all of the charges the man was facing to be made known.

Judge Jo Rielly continued an order for interim name suppression, satisfied that the publication of the man's name had the potential to cause extreme hardship to one of his victims and others connected to him.

"I want to make it clear it has got nothing to do with any potential extreme hardship to you, it is to people connected with you."

The details mentioned in court around the ongoing police investigation were also suppressed.

Tasman district commander Superintendent Tracey Thompson said at the time of the incident that four people had been in the house, but two had been able to leave before the situation was resolved.

"We understand this was a distressing incident for those involved, and those victims are being offered ongoing support."

The man will reappear in the Nelson District Court, next month.