Photo: RNZ

A Northland man who led police on a slow-motion chase across the Bay of Islands has appeared in court on a raft of charges relating to his weekend escapade.

Levi Johns, of Kawakawa, was remanded in custody after appearing in the Kaikohe District Court on Monday charged with unlawful possession of a knife, escaping custody, resisting arrest, theft, and entering a boat with intent to commit a crime.

The 24-year-old was allegedly found on board a boat at Ōpua Marina, then tried to escape from police about 3pm on Saturday by swimming across the channel to Ōkiato, still carrying the knife.

He was followed by police, and a police dog, in an inflatable boat. He refused to go ashore but eventually surrendered to officers on a Coastguard vessel.

By then he was cold and exhausted after an hour in the water.

At the time, a police spokesperson said the man had missed his calling as a marathon swimmer.

Johns is due back in court by audio-visual link on 3 September for a bail application.