Hamilton armed fugitive arrested

Colin Rangi Robyn Kiriona was arrested this afternoon. Photo / NZPA/NZ Police

An armed gang member wanted after a string of alleged domestic assaults on his estranged partner in Waikato has been arrested in the Whanganui area.

Colin Kiriona, 25, had 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.

He was arrested near Marton, 35km southeast of Wanganui, about 1.30pm, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton of Hamilton police said.

The armed offenders squad from Wanganui, along with Waikato and Marton police, arrested him at a rural property outside the town.

He was charged with assault and was also being interviewed about other alleged offences, police said.

It was likely he would face additional charges over the alleged assaults on his partner.

A 19-year-old woman at the Marton property was also being interviewed about what assistance she had given him while he was on the run, and if she helped him avoid arrest, police said.

Mr Thornton thanked the public for giving police timely and accurate sightings of Kiriona.

"Information from the public went a long way in enabling us to affect this man's arrest without any harm to him, the public or our staff and we are grateful for that."

He willappear in court tomorrow.

- NZPA