Singer Tiki Taane, who was arrested for singing the rap song F*** the Police, says he has performed the song many times live and hopes to keep his relationship with police "positive".

In a statement released this morning, Taane - who will appear in the Tauranga District Court on Friday - said he was arrested at an R18 concert in Tauranga at 3.25am on Sunday.

"I was handcuffed and taken to the cells where I spent the rest of the night," he said in his statement.

"I have been charged with disorderly behaviour, likely to cause violence, for reciting the lyrics to a song by an American rap group called NWA.

"This song is a protest song written by Ice Cube in 1988, and I have often played and sang along to it at my R18 concerts with no trouble at all."

Taane says the concerned promoter and his DJ were taken in but later released uncharged.

"I have had an excellent rapport with the NZ Police and I intend to keep that relationship positive," Taane says.

"I'm 34 years old and this is my first ever offence, and I feel it is unfortunate that one particular police officer became upset with the NWA lyrics I sang that night.

"It was an awesome concert with an amazing crowd, and this is why I always come back to Tauranga to play."

Taane thanked his family and friends and hoped "this is resolved positively and soon".

Some people at the show said the singer, best known for the song Always on my Mind, began singing F*** the Police when police carried out an inspection of the club.

The acting area commander for Western Bay of Plenty, Inspector Karl Wright St-Clair, said they had visited the club earlier that night as part of their regular pub checks across the region.

He said because of an incident that happened during the visit, police returned after the bar closed at 3am to speak to staff and entertainers.

When they approached Taane afterwards "things got out of hand", a witness said. A 24-year-old man was also arrested.

The club's promoter, Pato Alvarez, would not comment on the incident till he had spoken to his lawyer but said the club was "with Tiki".

Taane's Facebook page carried this message: "Thanks whanau for all your queries, Tiki is OK ... In the meantime if you were present at the Tauranga gig early hours Sunday we sincerely hope you are OK also ... Freedom of speech is a human right and we appreciate all your support x".

- Stuff