The actor accused of sex crimes when he was giving acting classes, can now be named for the first time.
Name suppression for former Shortland Street actor Rene Naufahu, who played Sam the ambulance officer, has lapsed this morning.
He's denied 14 counts of indecent assault and two charges of sexual violation, involving a total of six women.
It's the actor's own decision to have the suppression order lifted, because he says it was casting a shadow over others in the profession.
Naufahu has also been baptised the same weekend his name suppression lapsed.Â
He strenuously denies any wrongdoing, and says he only tried to keep his name out of the media to protect his family.
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