A woman charged with assault after claiming she was punched for speaking Te Reo has been given a suspended sentence.
Shona Maiden, 46, appeared in the Manukau District Court this evening.
She was given a suspended sentence by Judge Charles Blackie and was ordered to pay $130 in court costs.
Judge Blackie said he did not feel comfortable giving her a prison sentence - which, for a charge of common assault can be up to six months in jail - because the picture of what happened was not clear.
Maiden was charged after CCTV footage showed she had punched a man several times outside the 123 Casino Karaoke Bar, in Howick, after New Year's Eve celebrations.
The man was also charged with common assault but is defending it.
Before police had seen the bar's CCTV footage, Maiden approached the Herald and other media claiming she had been beaten after speaking Te Reo.
She said as she left the bar, she called out to some people: "Ka kite ano." (See you later). She claimed a man had an issue with that and questioned why a "palagi" would use such words.
At the court today, Maiden was supported by a community minister from the Salvation Army, Howick branch.
Her lawyer said she was remorseful for her actions and had since stopped drinking alcohol since that night.
"She does apologise and clearly seeks an opportunity to just move on from that night."
She was also looking to start studying at Unitec.
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