All Blacks and Chiefs flanker Sione Lauaki has been ordered to undergo an anger management course after he trashed property at an Auckland motel in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The 27-year-old appeared in court at Auckland on Friday, charged with intentionally damaging three windows and a TV at the Greenlane Motor Inn, opposite Ellerslie Racecourse.

Judge Elizabeth Aitken ordered Lauaki to complete a 20-week anger management course at Auckland's Man Alive Men's Centre, the Herald on Sunday reported.

He will reappear in April and if he can produce evidence he has started the course and paid the $700 damage bill, he will be "discharged without conviction", she said.

Lauaki, who is at least the 11th All Black to appear in a criminal court in the past five years, arrived at the motel with his girlfriend at 5.50am on New Year's Day and paid for a ground-floor unit.

Soon after staff heard raised voices and windows being smashed. Police were called and Lauaki was arrested.

In February 2006 Lauaki was offered police diversion after admitting assaulting a Hamilton security officer.

Judge Aitken said the incidents were unrelated and a diversion meant the latest charge was his first.

She gave Lauaki credit for his early guilty plea, age, and that he had started an alcohol programme through his sports team, paid reparation and had no previous convictions.

A discharge without conviction means he will maintain his clean record.

Judge Aitken told the court Lauaki was not getting "special treatment".

While owning up was a "very good first step", he needed to learn to "keep his temper under control".

The Hamilton-based Chiefs Super 14 franchise is standing by Lauaki through the next phase of the process - a New Zealand Rugby Union investigation.

"He's a tremendous part of our squad," chief executive Gary Dawson said.

"It's unfortunate this has happened, but we will certainly support him and do everything we can to help him through this."

The Chiefs played their first pre-season game on Saturday against the Blues in Pukekohe. Dawson said Lauaki was sidelined with a "slight injury" but would not elaborate.

Lauaki has played 17 tests for the All Blacks.

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