A Tauranga man accused of a hit-and-run and multiple assaults repeatedly shouted from the dock before being removed from court by police during his first appearance.

Levi Mitchell, 32, appeared in Tauranga District Court today facing seven charges relating to an incident in Tauriko and Pyes Pa on Tuesday.

During the appearance, Mitchell leaned over the dock railing and shouted questions at people in the courtroom.

He was escorted from the room and the session continued.

Judge Stephen Coyle remanded Mitchell in custody without plea. He is due to reappear via video link on November 25.

He is charged with two counts of assaulting a person with a weapon, dangerous driving, failing to remain stopped, aggravated assault, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and assaulting a first responder.

Defence lawyer Rynae Butler told the court she had been unable to obtain instructions from Mitchell. She said attempts by mental health services to engage with him had been unsuccessful.

Butler raised the possibility of a mental health assessment, but Judge Coyle declined, saying Mitchell appeared to understand the court process.

An application for interim name suppression was also declined.

Police examine a vehicle on State Highway 36 after an incident in Tauranga on Tuesday. Photo / Bijou Johnson

The charges follow an incident that prompted a significant police response in Tauranga on Tuesday.

Police were called to Kaweroa Drive, Tauriko, about 12.50pm on Tuesday after reports a person had allegedly been hit by a vehicle.

Senior Sergeant Simon Betchetti said the person was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The car allegedly left before police arrived. Officers later saw it on State Highway 29.

A man was eventually arrested without incident on Pyes Pa Rd, State Highway 36.

Several police cars were seen surrounding a white sedan outside the Pyes Pa Cemetery about 2pm.

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post.