30 Jul 2025

Man refused bail over armed robbery of Kensington Tavern in Whangārei

12:34 pm on 30 July 2025
A man with a gun entered Kensington Tavern about 10 o'clock on 25 July 2025 and discharged a firearm before demanding money.

A man with a gun entered Kensington Tavern about 10pm on 25 July and fired a shot into the ceiling before demanding money. Photo: Supplied

A man accused of the gunpoint robbery of a Whangārei pub has been refused bail after appearing in court on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old digger driver faces eight charges, including aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, discharging a firearm to intimidate, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was arrested outside an Okara Park business on Monday, just days after the Friday night robbery of Kensington Tavern in which police say he fired a shot at the ceiling and left one man needing hospital treatment.

Police recovered the firearm in a separate operation on Monday.

The bar owner told RNZ one patron was injured after getting into a tussle with the intruder.

Court documents state the accused made off with $5000 in cash, and that one of the serious violence charges stems from another, unrelated incident on 10 July.

Documents also reveal there were five people in the tavern at the time, including the owner

The accused, who has interim name suppression on some of the charges, is due back in Whangārei District Court on 26 August.

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