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Arai Whaakari Hema, who had been on the run since fleeing a work party outside Auckland's Paremoremo Prison on January 21, was captured on Hamilton's main street early today.
Hamilton City area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said Hema's luck ran out when a police officer saw a suspicious man walking north along central city Victoria St about 12.25am
"Dressed up for a night on the town, Hema claimed to be someone else but one of the officers recognised his true identity and he was arrested and taken back to the Hamilton Central Police Station," said Mr Lindsay.
"At this stage I'd just like to take the opportunity to commend the staff members involved in removing a man that posed such a risk to members of the public off our streets."
Hema was to be considered for parole next year but without parole was not due to be released until 2016.
He was jailed after attacking a teenage girl and trying to rape her in Napier in 1998.
He also attacked the girl's 76-year-old neighbour who went to her aid, slashing him with a knife and leaving him requiring 400 stitches. The neighbour died last year.
Hema had his sentence extended after attacking three guards at Hawke's Bay Prison in 2004, throwing boiling water over one of them.
- NZPA
