Aspiring politician Maurice Temaki Wairau has been charged with attempted murder.



Wairau, of Palmerston North, contested the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election last year after the death of Labour MP Parekura Horomia.



It was his second attempt to secure the electorate as an independent candidate. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2011 general election and received just 30 votes in the by-election.



Wairau, 37, appeared in the Hastings District Court today with his arm in a cast.



He entered no plea to charges of attempted murder, injuring with reckless disregard, intentional damage by fire and aggravated burglary.



The alleged offending occurred on December 20.



Wairau is accused of setting a Housing New Zealand property in Palmerston North on fire.



It is alleged that on the same day he attempted to enter a Hastings property armed with a knife. He is accused of injuring a woman and attempting to murder a Hastings man.



Judge Jonathan Down said that because of the serious nature of the charges the case needed to be transferred to the High Court in Napier.



Wairau was remanded in custody till February 4.



While campaigning for the by-election in Hawke's Bay last year, Wairau was arrested when he allegedly refused to undergo a blood test after being pulled over by police.



He entered no plea at his first appearance in June. The charge will be heard alongside the other matters next month.