Seven kidnapping charges after Rotorua bank event

The man arrested after an Armed Offenders Squad stand-off at a Rotorua bank has made his first court appearance on kidnapping and threat charges. Eight charges were laid before he appeared at Rotorua District Court on Thursday: seven charges of kidnapping and one charge of threatening to kill/do grievous bodily harm. The 35-year-old, who was granted interim name suppression, entered no pleas to the charges and was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance. Police were called to BNZ in Amohau St about 3.55pm on Thursday “after a man entered the property and took a group of people hostage,” says a police statement. Morrison says he had been asked to perform a karakia for bank staff at 8.30am on Monday before they returned to work.