Gang member remanded in custody after week on run

A gang member who went on the run from police after a string of alleged assaults on his estranged partner was remanded in custody after facing 18 charges in court today.

Colin Kiriona, 25, was arrested by Waikato detectives and armed police at a rural property near Marton, 35km southeast of Wanganui, about 1.30pm yesterday.

Police had been hunting him since the woman fled a house in Hamilton where she had allegedly been held against her will and seriously assaulted over two days last week.

Kiriona also allegedly assaulted the woman and discharged a firearm at a Ngaruawahia address two to three weeks ago.

Kiriona appeared in Hamilton District Court today on 18 charges including kidnapping, aggravated wounding, threatening to kill, assault with a blunt instrument, assault with intent to injure, and burglary.

He entered no plea and was remanded in custody until August 24.

A 19-year-old woman apprehended with Kiriona yesterday has not been charged.

"At this time no other person has been charged in relation to assisting this man while on the run, however, our inquiries are continuing," Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton of Hamilton police said.

The level of resources police dedicated to capturing Kiriona was an indication of how seriously police treated the issues of domestic violence and organised crime, he said.

- NZPA