Whakatane man admits sex assaults 30 years ago

A Whakatane man has admitted regularly sexually assaulting a girl almost 30 years ago over a three-year period.

Rihari Hunia, 56, retired, appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two representative charges of indecent assaulting a girl when she was aged between 11 and 16. He also pleaded guilty to a representative charge of getting her to perform an indecent act on him.

The sexual assaults occurred regularly between 1973 and 1976.

Police say Hunia indecently assaulted the girl on many occasions and sometimes would also get her to perform indecent acts on him.

At the time of the offending the girl told an aunt about what Hunia was doing to her but was too scared to tell her mother.

It was not until after her mother died at the end of 2003 the complainant went to the police.

Hunia told police he may well have sexually assaulted the complainant but could not really remember, although he did recall indecently assaulting her once and getting her to perform an indecent act on him.

The court was told Hunia was to be referred to Mana Social Services to see if the matter could be resolved through a restorative justice programme.

Judge Denise Clark remanded Hunia on bail for sentencing on June 24.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)