Armed fugitive still on loose

Colin Rangi Robyn Kiriona. Photo / Supplied

An armed gang member wanted after a string of alleged domestic assaults on his estranged partner in Waikato remains on the loose nearly a week after police first began looking for him.

Colin Kiriona, 25, has been on the run since the woman, who had been held against her will, fled a house in the Hamilton suburb of Nawton and raised an alarm about 8.30pm last Wednesday.

The woman was allegedly held from Tuesday through to Wednesday night, during which time she was seriously assaulted with her two children, aged seven and three, present.

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

Kiriona was known to have connections in the Waikato and Whanganui areas, Waikato police spokesman Andrew McAlley said.

He has a distinctive bulldog tattoo on his cheek and there have been several reports of sightings of people with similar descriptions, some as far away as Christchurch.

"The tattoo looks very distinctive to lay people but it's not uncommon in the criminal fraternity," Mr McAlley said.

"We are encouraging anyone who thinks they may have seen someone meeting his description to call us."

Kiriona was 1.75m tall, of medium build and known to be using methamphetamine.

Police have been talking to some of his associates in an attempt to find him.

- NZPA