A senior Royal New Zealand Navy officer has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to an incident in which they allegedly encouraged a junior officer to kiss them.

The Navy officer has been facing a court martial at Auckland’s Devonport Naval Base today.

The senior officer is facing a single charge of doing an act likely to prejudice service discipline.

The charge relates to a 2023 incident where the Navy official allegedly encouraged a junior officer under their command to kiss them.

The charge is punishable with imprisonment with a maximum of up to two years.

The senior officer has been granted interim name suppression, while an appeal is being considered.

The court martial is scheduled to continue this week.