Police hunt gang member who missed court

File photo / NZ Herald

Porirua police are looking for a gang member who has a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in the Wellington District Court earlier this month.

Detective Sergeant Brent Clark said 21-year-old Rikihana Tawhai failed to appear for sentencing on December 7 on a wounding with intent to injure charge, which related to an incident in Porirua in May.

"Tawhai is a patched Porirua Mongrel Mob member from Napier who has been residing locally," he said. "Police also want to speak to him in connection with an aggravated robbery which occurred at a house in Waitangirua around 10.30pm on Sunday 19 December."

In the incident, Mr Clark said three offenders entered a house and stole property, with one of the occupants at the address hit with a baseball bat, receiving minor injuries that required stitches.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Rikihana Tawhai, who may be in the wider Porirua or Napier areas, should contact Porirua police on 04 238 1400.

- NZHERALD STAFF