Tauranga man accused of armed robbery and kidnapping offences involving two strangers

Daine Rihari Karepa, 24, faced seven charges, including kidnapping and aggravated robbery, when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Wednesday. Photo / NZME

A Tauranga man is accused of kidnapping a woman from her Parkvale home and robbing another man in a local park while armed with a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun.

Daine Rihari Karepa, 24, faced seven charges when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Wednesday, following his arrest on Tuesday.

This includes kidnapping, the commission of a crime with a firearm, aggravated robbery, unlawful possession of four shotgun cartridges, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Court charging documents reveal Karepa is accused of unlawfully carrying off a woman with the intention of holding her to obtain a service, namely to provide transport.

Police allege the kidnapping began at the complainant's Parkvale home on Monday, July 5, and Karepa was armed with a gun at the time.

He is also charged with having a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun in circumstances that showed an intention to use it in connection with the alleged unlawful taking offence.

Karepa is also jointly charged with the armed robbery of another man of $1000 cash, a wallet and several bank cards in Memorial Park, Tauranga, on Sunday, July 4.

The defendant's alleged co-offenders are unknown, according to court documents.

Karepa is also accused of two driving offences - that is, driving while forbidden and failing to stop at the scene of a serious injury crash on State Highway 29 on June 27.

The unlawful taking of a motor vehicle charge relates to a 1999 Toyota Corolla valued at $2000 allegedly taken without consent on June 28.

On Wednesday lawyer Thomas Haare, acting for Karepa's legal counsel Craig Tuck, told Judge John MacDonald that the defendant did not seek bail.

Judge MacDonald further remanded Karepa in custody by consent to appear in court on July 21 when pleas to the charges would be expected.