John Tekuru appears in court via video link in the Rotorua District Court in April 2025. Photo / Kelly Makiha
WARNING: This story discusses intended sexual offending against a child.
A man who breached his prison release conditions days after being released from jail for snatching a 3-year-old from a Rotorua daycare with intent to rape her is being “closely monitored”, the Department of Corrections says.
title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/convicted-rotorua-child-abducter-john-tekuru-found-outside-school-at-playground-after-prison-release/JEKWG63XOBBE5OSEVYXC7MLRKE/">John Tekuru is free again but it cannot be revealed publicly where he now lives.
The case has been described as “so, so alarming” by victims’ advocacy and sentencing reform group the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
It wrote to the Department of Corrections requesting a public protection order or extended supervision order to manage his risk of reoffending.
It was revealed in the Rotorua District Court at Te Kuru’s sentencing this year that he suffered from schizophrenia and had been smoking cannabis and not taking his medication on the day he took the little girl in March last year. He claimed voices in his head told him to do it.
He twice jumped a fence undetected at the daycare - the second time to snatch the little girl. He took her away but she cried so much, he eventually let her go. He later told police he intended to rape her.
The name of the daycare is permanently suppressed.
Tekuru was jailed for two years but was released in March this year after serving half of his sentence.
He had been in custody since March 10 last year. Under New Zealand law, those sentenced to a term of two years jail or less can be automatically released from prison after serving half of the term.
Tekuru was subject to electronic monitoring and part of his release conditions was that he was not allowed in Rotorua, or anywhere children were likely to be, such as schools, daycares or playgrounds.
Electronic monitoring showed that two days after his release, Tekuru went to a playground.
He confirmed with Corrections that he had entered the park containing the playground, and a warning was issued.
A couple of days later, on March 17, he was detected about 8am at a high school that shares an entranceway with an early childhood education centre.
He appeared in the Manukau District Court last week and was jailed for 30 days for the breach, but was released on time served.
Tekuru was arrested again on Tuesday morning this week for allegedly breaching court release conditions, RNZ reported. He was released a short time later.
Corrections said a review was underway.
Corrections communities, partners and pathways acting director Simon Chaplin confirmed to the Rotorua Daily Post that Tekuru had earlier been released from custody at the direction of the courts.
“Public safety is our top priority, and we are closely monitoring this offender to ensure he complies with his conditions. Any non-compliance with these conditions will be taken extremely seriously and acted on immediately.”
Chaplin said they could not disclose the exact location or details around his living conditions, but confirmed he was temporarily living at an address, not in Rotorua, with “Corrections oversight”.
RNZ has reported Tekuru is temporarily at a residence on prison land.
Chaplin said Corrections was working to find suitable long-term housing for Tekuru.
It would assess the location of victims, other occupants at the property, including any children, the location of support services and suitability for electronic monitoring.
“We take our management of offenders in the community extremely seriously, and this person would not be allowed to reside at an address if it was not deemed suitable for them to do so.”
In relation to last month’s incidents, Chaplin said staff took prosecution action as soon as Tekuru breached his conditions.
“Mr Tekuru was in the area for a matter of minutes and shortly after left the area.”
As a result of that breach, Tekuru was taken into custody and Corrections opposed bail, Chaplin said.
Tekuru is subject to conditions:
Sensible Sentencing Trust national spokesperson Louise Parsons said it wrote to Corrections to urge the department to pursue protective orders regarding Tekuru.
She said there was an “obvious and common failing” of the New Zealand justice system that he only received a two-year sentence, and that he only served half.
She said it was “a joke” he was released after 12 months with no risk assessment, no consideration of behaviour and no consideration of the views of victims. She said Tekuru needed help from the mental health system.
In response to the trust’s requests, Chaplin said applications had not been made for an extended supervision order or public protection order.
He said individuals must be considered a high risk of further offending and must meet specific criteria under the Parole Act to be considered for an extended supervision order.
He said a public protection order allowed the detention of very high-risk individuals at a secure facility within prison precincts. Only a very small number of people were likely to be subject to public protection orders, and this was a decision for the High Court, Chaplin said.
Where to get help:
If it’s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you’ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz.
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it’s not your fault.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.