Bayfair machete attacker in court

Mikaera Joseph Rawiri went on a drunken rampage armed with a machete, swinging the weapon at a man's head before threatening diners at Bayfair shopping mall _ and yesterday he avoided a prison sentence.
Rawiri, 19, had been drinking at his Links Ave home on November 28, before he collected a machete with a 41cm blade from a nearby address, and went to Harris St.
Making his way through the Bayfair carpark, Rawiri swung the machete at another man's head, causing the other man to take evasion action, before running away.
Rawiri continued to brandish the machete at other members of the public, hitting several parked vehicles before entering a restaurant where he waved the machete at diners.
After striking the wall, causing diners to flee the restaurant, Rawiri left and headed for Girven Rd, where police found him brandish ing the machete at the driver of a vehicle stopped at the lights.
Details of Rawiri's violent spree were heard in the Tauranga District Court yesterday as he was sentenced to five months' com munity detention and a year of supervision.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of possessing an offensive weapon, threatening to do grievous bodily harm, and threatening behaviour.
Rawiri's lawyer Glenn Dixon told Judge Paul Geoghegan that while a prison term could be justified, a period of supervision was desirable, to ensure the serious is sues which led Rawiri to come before the courts were addressed sooner rather than later.
Mr Dixon said the offending had occurred at a time when Rawiri was drinking excessively and using cannabis. He had little recall of the events which put him into a situation where he was lucky not to be shot.
Rawiri was now living with his adoptive parents outside Tauranga, and was undergoing coun selling. Mr Dixon said sending Rawiri to jail could potentially destroy any ability for him to move forward in life.
Judge Geoghegan agreed, but said it appeared Rawiri was a young man without any sense of purpose and direction.
Judge Geoghegan told Rawiri:
"Frankly there is no question a sentence of imprisonment is justi fied. It must have been a truly frightening experience for every one involved who saw you waving the machete around in this way. But it also seems to me that no thing would be achieved by send ing you to prison at this point."