Serial rapist slips intensive supervision

Maka Renata. Photo / Supplied

A serial rapist taught how to stalk victims by his uncle has gone on the run for a second time in six months - despite being under "intensive supervision".

Police say Maka Renata, 24, has visited family and associates across the North Island since fleeing a Napier halfway house more than two weeks ago.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins promised authorities would do everything in their power to monitor Renata when he was released from prison last November. But yesterday Collins refused to comment on Renata's latest escape, saying it was an operational matter.

Labour law and order spokesman Clayton Cosgrove accused the minister of running scared.

"It's typical of the track record of Judith Collins. She has swaggered around the country talking tough and where is she when it goes wrong? The victims of this offender have been let down."

Renata was just 14 when he raped a woman in an alley in Wellington, after being trained by his uncle, Mongrel Mob member Dean Hiroki.

While serving a 7 sentence, he raped his teenage cell mate and best friend and was jailed for a further three years.

Renata went missing from his Christchurch bail address in November 2009 just weeks after his release from prison.

He was caught in Lower Hutt in after being recognised by a member of the public and sentenced to an 18-month intensive supervision order.

Napier police defended their decision to wait until last Friday to notify the public that Renata had absconded.

Inspector Kevin Kalff said: "There were enquiries that needed to be made before we went public. We are completely aware of public fears."

Renata's lawyer Michael Bott said his client had indicated he would turn himself in on Friday night but changed his mind. He said Renata had suffered appalling abuse as a child which had left him "ill-equipped to deal with life's problems".