Henderson entered no plea to the two charges laid against him by the Inland Revenue Department, which had withdrawn seven of its original charges.
He was remanded on bail until July 6 when he will attend a post-committal conference, conditions of his bail are to reside at his current address in Gibbston valley. Mr Hide would also stay at that Gibbston address this week while on holiday. He had gone to court in support of his "number one friend", the former MP said.
"I'm staying with Dave and went along out of courtesy."
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times, Henderson said Mr Hide was "fascinated by the whole process" of the court and his case.
"Rod's a mate and had come along to sit in. He's been a friend of mine for 20 to 30 years.
"Look, I am a big boy and I can stand on my own two feet. I'm not too worried about that business."
The 56-year-old former Five Mile developer was charged with aiding and abetting Dweller Ltd to commit an offence under the Tax Administration Act 1994.
The two charges relate to incidents between May and September 2010 and October 2010 and January 2011 where he allegedly committed nine offences against the administration Act 1994 of tax deductions for purposes other than payment to the IRD.
Payments ranged between $6613.82 and $30,225.85 and totalled $183,232.64.
The Companies Office shows Dweller Ltd was incorporated on April 3, 2006, and placed in liquidation on December 13, 2010. Its sole director is listed as David Ian Henderson, who was behind the failed Five Mile development at State Highway 6 and colloquially known as "Hendo's Hole".