Former Shortland Street actor Rene Naufahu has been sentenced to a year of home detention for indecently assaulting six acting students.

Naufahu appeared in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday in front of Judge Rob Ronayne after he pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault in September last year.

He had initially denied the accusations.

Naufahu played ambulance driver Sam Aleni in Shortland Street.

The offending took place between 2011 and 2013 during acting classes that Naufahu was running for models signed with a talent agency.

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During group sessions, Naufahu would invite some young female students to join him for one-on-one tutorials to sharpen their acting skills.

It was in these classes Naufahu would encourage the women to engage in 'push-pull' and 'let me in, let me out' exercises.

He told each of the women not to tell anyone about their lessons, and assured them they didn't have to pay him for the extra tutorials.

The exercises would often involve Naufahu touching the women, and encouraging them to touch him back.

According to the summary of facts, Naufahu would at times attempt to kiss the woman, often without warning. He would also attempt to touch their breasts, bottom and between their legs.

When the women pushed back, Naufahu would reassure the women he was only trying to make them a better actor.

He told one woman she was making "amazing progress" after forcing his tongue into her mouth.

"You defended your actions by telling the woman she had to get into the meaning of the scene," Judge Ronayne said.

While Naufahu had pleaded guilty, Judge Ronayne said he was still trying to "shift" some of the blame onto his victims.

"You are the the guilty one, not them. It was you who breached their trust.

"....You publicly shamed the victims by denying the offending."

The abuse of trust was similar to that of other high profile sex scandals causing waves in Hollywood, Kirsten Lummis, for the Crown, said.

"It is the type of the power imbalance the 'Me Too' campaign has highlighted in recent times," Lummis said.

The Crown said Naufahu, 47, intentionally groomed the young women by telling them they were talented, and needed extra encouragement.

Five out of the six women were tall, slim, and blonde and were all aged between 18 and 24 years old.

"The type of grooming which has occurred has been difficult for the victims to deal with."

The actor had shown limited remorse following the offending, Lummis said.

"His remorse seems to be concerned about the impacts on his own life, rather than true remorse."

Naufahu's lawyer Ron Mansfield said his client had helped many actors throughout his career in group, and one-on-one classes.

"The complainants were offended against when his enthusiasm and passion for the craft became personal."

Mansfield said the idea Naufahu "preyed" on or "groomed" the women was wrong.

"The complainants were offended against when his enthusiasm and passion for the craft became personal," Mansfield said.

Naufahu was no longer involved in the acting scene, but was working in construction.

"He still has a lot to give. He has made mistakes, he has acknowledges those mistakes. There is every indication he has taken steps to rehabilitate and reform," Mansfield said.

In March of last year, the well-known soap-opera star was revealed as the prominent actor facing indecent assault charges from a host of women, allegations which he strenuously denied at the time.

Naufahu played ambulance driver Sam Aleni in Shortland Street during the 1990s. He reappeared in the role in 2014 for a short period of time.

In 2006, he won best supporting actor for the film No.2 at the Air New Zealand Screen Awards.

FULL STATEMENT FROM RENE NAUFAHU

I am relieved that this prosecution is now behind the complainants and myself. We can all now move forward and heal, where this is required. That is what I want for all of us. I couldn't be clearer about that.

To say this prosecution has been a brutal learning curve, one that has caused me to assess my past professional and personal conduct, would be an understatement. But I now realise that my behaviour at that time wasn't always professional and appropriate, even though then I thought it was.

I realise that I did act inappropriately and failed to consider and fully understand what I was doing, why and the impact on those affected. I let my professional passion for the art of acting became personal and the lines between the two became blurred and my conduct at times with some students became unprofessional and wrong.

I can see that now how my conduct has impacted on the complainants. While I formed personal feelings, clearly they didn't and felt that I had abused my role as their acting coach, which accept that I did. I failed to protect them and ensure that they felt safe with the conduct that took place in the classes.

For a long while after I was charged and had to confront my behaviour, my passion for acting disappeared. However, I have worked through this and I am pleased that it has returned. However, the lessons learnt through this phase of my life will not be forgotten and I will ensure that everyone that I work with are at all times safe and feel safe.

None of us are perfect and there is always room for growth. I have made mistakes and I have learnt from them.

I would like to thank the many who have supported me and shown me love in return for the love and time I have committed to them over the years. That has been truly humbling and helped me through this personal journey.