Cities often remember their nights differently from their days.
When evening falls and the streets fill with light and music, restaurants and bars become places where strangers gather, laughter moves easily through crowded rooms, and the city feels briefly unburdened by the seriousness of daylight hours. Yet sometimes, beneath that familiar rhythm of nightlife, events unfold that leave deeper and more troubling traces.
In Christchurch, the story of a bar once known as Mama Hooch became one such memory.
Years ago, the venue stood as part of the city’s nightlife scene. But what emerged later through police investigations and court proceedings would transform it into something else entirely — a place connected to a case that unsettled both the hospitality industry and the wider community.
This week, another chapter in that long legal process reached its conclusion.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals brought by Danny and Roberto Jaz, two brothers who were convicted of multiple sexual offences connected to incidents that took place at Mama Hooch. The court’s decision leaves the original convictions and prison sentences in place.
The case first came to public attention after several women reported being sexually assaulted following visits to the Christchurch bar. During the trial, prosecutors told the court that the brothers had used drugs and alcohol to incapacitate victims before carrying out the assaults.
After a lengthy trial in 2023, a jury found both men guilty on numerous charges relating to sexual violation and related offences involving multiple victims. The convictions drew significant attention across New Zealand, in part because the case highlighted concerns about drink spiking and safety in nightlife settings.
The brothers later appealed their convictions, arguing that aspects of the trial had been unfair and that certain evidence should not have been admitted. Their lawyers also raised concerns about how the jury had been directed during the proceedings.
The Court of Appeal examined those arguments but ultimately rejected them. In its decision, the court concluded that the trial had been conducted fairly and that the convictions should stand.
For the women who came forward during the case, the proceedings required revisiting experiences that had taken place years earlier. Their testimonies formed the core of the prosecution’s case and played a central role in the jury’s verdict.
The broader case prompted discussions within New Zealand about drink safety, nightlife culture, and the responsibilities of venues and staff in protecting patrons.
With the appeal dismissed, the legal process surrounding the convictions moves closer to its end.
The Court of Appeal confirmed that Danny and Roberto Jaz’s appeals have been rejected. Their convictions and sentences therefore remain in force, although further appeals to the Supreme Court remain a legal possibility.
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Source Check (verified mainstream coverage): RNZ News, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff, 1News, The Press