A Gisborne farmer accused of evading tax totalling $17 million, will stand trial in the High Court later this year.

John Richard Bracken, 54, was the subject of a joint investigation by police and the Inland Revenue Department. It resulted in charges alleging fraudulent use of documents — GST claim forms in which he falsely showed his business running at a loss over four years up to June, 2018.

He has pleaded not guilty and claims he is innocent by virtue of “tikanga”.

An estimated $11 million dollars of his assets were frozen in December, 2018, due to a successful application by police under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

Those assets included his 1680ha Matawai farm (valued at about $7 million), three residential properties, a holiday home, $650,000 in bank funds, tractors, quad bikes, a digger, several utes, including a late model Dodge Ram, and a 6.5-metre fishing boat.

At a brief case review hearing in Gisborne District Court this week, the prosecution was transferred to the High Court and the case file handed from the IRD to the Crown solicitor's office.

A date for the High Court trial is expected to be scheduled at a further case review hearing on April 22.

Speaking to The Gisborne Herald outside the courtroom, Bracken and a Bay of Plenty man acting in a McKenzie friend type role — Peter Helmbright — said Bracken was innocent due to “tikanga”.

The Maori concept of tikanga can be interpreted many ways. Its definition includes correct procedure, custom and protocol.

Mr Helmbright, who describes himself as a “native assessor”, is of Maori descent and is a cousin of Bracken's wife Margaret, who is also of Maori descent.

Mr Helmbright was a witness for Bracken in a prosecution last year in which Gisborne District Council alleged Bracken committed 10 criminal offences under the Resource Management Act (between December, 2017 and March, 2018) and twice breached council-issued abatement notices, in relation to earthworks he did at his Matawai farm.

Bracken was found guilty of five of the RMA charges and one of the breaches but not guilty of the remaining six charges. He was fined $20,000 and refused a discharge without conviction.

Ahead of that hearing, Bracken claimed he was accountable only to God — New Zealand's legal system had no jurisdiction over him.

A group of his supporters attended court in T-shirts with slogans “Whanau Tangata Whenua”, “Federal Marshall”.

Mr Helmbright produced in evidence two marae-granted retrospective consents but Judge Jeff Smith said the RMA overrode any consents granted under the Te Turi Whenua or any other Act.

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During this week's court appearance, Bracken again represented himself with Mr Helmbright at his side.

He did not oppose IRD prosecutor Andrew Instone's application for the transferral.

He and Mr Helmbright clashed momentarily with Judge Warren Cathcart, who refused their request for a karakia (prayer) and told Mr Helmbright to sit down — that while he could confer with Bracken, he could not address the court directly.

Bracken was again accompanied to court by a large group of supporters.