The skipper of a boat arrested while protesting against seismic surveying by a Brazilian oil company off East Cape challenged his bail condition on Friday in the Tauranga District Court.
Elvis Teddy was remanded on bail in April on the condition that he does not go more than 1km off the New Zealand coast in any vessel.
His lawyer told the court Mr Teddy sometimes needs to go between three to four nautical miles offshore for his work as a commercial fisherman.
However, a Community Magistrate upheld the bail condition without change.
Mr Teddy also entered a not guilty plea for two charges, one of which is operating a vessel in an unsafe manner.
He will next appear in the Tauranga District Court on 5 July.
