Three men charged with aggravated robbery and kidnapping have appeared in the Invercargill District Court this morning.

The alleged incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday November 19, in south Invercargill.

John Kenneth Butler (36), Brendon Kaea (39) and Nathan Arama Mitchell Rerekura (31) were jointly charged with entering a building on Regent Street without authority, with an intent to commit an imprisonable offence in that building, armed with a pistol and a tomahawk.

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They are also jointly charged with detaining a person against their will. 

Community magistrate Sally O’Brien remanded all three in custody, without plea, until December 17, when they are expected to appear via audio visual link.

A fourth man is due to appear in court next week in connection to the same incident on November 19. He is charged with assault, possession of a firearm and aggravated robbery.

Lawyer John Fraser represented the three men this morning and said applications for legal aid have been made.

No applications for their bail were made.