A former All Black has had a conviction for assaulting his son overturned on appeal to the High Court.
The man, who cannot be named to protect his son's identity, had an application for a discharge without conviction declined in Auckland District Court after pleading guilty in November.
Justice Judith Potter has quashed the conviction in a High Court judgment released on Friday, Fairfax Media reported.
She cited the man's continuing contribution to the community, and said he could lose employment from speaking engagements, particularly overseas.
The man struck the boy once on the legs and once on the shoulder with the tongue end of the belt, causing bruising and redness.
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