A Taupo District councillor accused of "swiping" his wife across the face did so because she spat at him, a police summary of facts says.

Rex Charles Mincher, 49, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife at their home earlier this month.

A summary of facts released to The Dominion Post at court yesterday revealed Mincher allegedly hit his wife, Shona, during a heated argument in the couple's home on September 1.

The conflict between the pair began a week before when Mrs Mincher became upset after her husband failed to pick up the couple's daughter from a friend's house as arranged.

They "argued and bickered" for the next week until it came to a head during a heated argument the following Saturday night.

During the argument Mincher allegedly turned and walked away, the summary said.

Incensed, his wife called out, "You're doing it again, showing me your back."

Mincher then walked back towards his wife, "chest puffed out and arms back", and was "right in her face".

When his wife spat in his face Mincher put his hands up, "jabbing her on the nose and mouth with the side of his hand and knocking her backwards".

It caused a small cut to the inside of her mouth and bruising across her nose.

Mincher allegedly said to his wife, "What do you expect when you provoke me like that."

As she ran away holding her mouth, Mincher swore at her.

She told him she was going to the police and drove away.

In Taupo District Court yesterday, Judge James Weir remanded Mincher on bail for a defended hearing in October.

Mincher told police he did not mean to hit his wife.

"I just swiped my hand as a reaction to her spitting at me," he said.

Outside court he said he would not ask police to charge his wife with assault for spitting at him because it would damage his family.

He had not yet decided whether to stand again for council at next year's elections.

- © Fairfax NZ News