Rapist breaches release conditions

HUNTED: Police have launched a manhunt for Maka Renata.

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A rapist who first attacked a woman when he was 14 years old is again being hunted by police.

A manhunt spanning the country has been launched after Maka Renata, 24, allegedly breached the conditions of his recent release from prison.

A warrant to arrest Renata was issued in the Christchurch District Court on December 23.

Renata is known to have been in Manukau, Auckland, on December 24. An associate believed to have been with Renata was arrested in Picton on December 30.

Although it's not known where Renata is, police say he has links to the Wellington region.

BACKGROUND

Renata was 14 when he first committed rape, along with his foster father, Dean Hiroki, a senior Mongrel Mob member and serial rapist, in June, 1999. The teen had been placed in Hiroki's care by Child Youth and Family, despite the mobster having 17 pages of convictions including rape, attempted rape, and threatening to kill.

The pair attacked a 26-year-old Wellington woman as she walked down Cuba St. They dragged her into an alley, holding a knife to her throat, and took turns raping her.

During Renata's sentencing, Judge Craig Thompson said the victim's impact statement was the most soul-tearing document he had read. The hand-written document read: "To lie helplessly with a knife against your throat while a male violates you is truly a taste of Hell that will haunt me for the rest of my life."

About 16 months later, while serving 7½ years for that rape, Renata sodomised his 15-year-old cellmate and best friend. He was sentenced to a further three years in jail.

Renata was originally due to be freed from prison more than two years ago, but the Corrections Department applied for a special order under the Parole Act to keep him locked up till his final release date, December 2 last year.

WARNING

Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich, of Wellington police, has dealt with Renata in the past and said today that the potential for Renata to reoffend was "extremely high".

"Renata is certainly a person the public should actively watch out for and the sooner he is captured the safer the public would be," Arnerich said.

Any one with information is asked to contact their local police station.

Renata is described as Maori, 1.66m tall and of medium build.

- with The Dominion Post

- © Fairfax NZ News