All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Man admits armed robbery of trio in Tauranga McDonald's car park

By Belinda Feek
Reporter·NZ Herald·
31 Jul, 2017 02:03 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Shaun Taikato has been remanded in custody after admitting charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and discharging a firearm with reckless disregard after an incident at Tauranga McDonald's.
Shaun Taikato has been remanded in custody after admitting charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and discharging a firearm with reckless disregard after an incident at Tauranga McDonald's.

Shaun Taikato has been remanded in custody after admitting charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and discharging a firearm with reckless disregard after an incident at Tauranga McDonald's.

Armed with a .22 rifle, Shaun Merro Taikato jumped into the back of a car as the startled occupants munched on their McDonald's.

Taikato demanded cash, and although one of the three occupants eventually managed to jump from the moving car, two others would go on to endure the most frightening experience of their lives.

Taikato appeared in the High Court at Hamilton today when, just before his trial was due to kick off, he pleaded guilty to multiple violence charges including aggravated robbery and kidnapping after the incident at McDonald's Tauranga, at the corner of Cameron Rd and 11th Avenue, last year.

Justice Mathew Downs convicted Taikato on all charges and remanded him in custody for sentencing in the Rotorua High Court in September.

Court documents reveal the harrowing detail from about 4.30am on May 28 last year.

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After tightening the hood on his jacket, Taikato approached the car, jumping in the back seat.

He pointed his firearm at the driver and said "We can do this the easy or the hard way". He then told them to "hand over all your cash and everything you have".

The victim in the back seat tried, unsuccessfully to get out, and was instead punched before being told to "shut the f****** door" and Taikato telling the driver "drive, drive, drive".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

As they drove out the back entrance, the back seat passenger punched Taikato, opened his door and ran to safety.

The car drove on.

After telling the driver to take him to Merivale, Taikato fired a shot outside the car window and proceeded to tell the two remaining victims "this is going to be your final ride".

He demanded the driver withdraw $2000 from an ATM in Greerton, however once stopping got him to go to another one as it was too well lit.

After stopping at the second ATM, the victim got a receipt from the ATM showing he had no money. Taikato punched the victim in the back of the head. He then said he had money at home and as they drove Taikato told them "I want $2000 or I'm taking the car".

The driver instead took them to the front passenger's house but when they arrived, Taikato smelled a rat and told them, "you guys trying to fool me?" This is not a flat". He got the victim to reverse and told them to head to Te Puke as "this is going to be your last ride".

While driving through Welcome Bay, he got them to drive up Waitao Rd, finding a spot to turn the car around so it faced back down the road.

Once stopped, the victims were forced out of the vehicle to stand in front of the car's lights and told to remove their shoes and socks and empty their pockets.

He took a packet of cigarettes, after earlier taking up to $350 off them, and told the pair to start walking. As they walked away Taikato drove towards them, however they managed to jump out of the way.

The following month, Taikato was at his home on Henderson Cres, Tauranga, when he shot himself through the hand and chest and hospitalised.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When police questioned him about the May incident, he denied knowing anything about it.

Justice Downs convicted Taikato on two charges of kidnapping, one charge of attempted kidnapping, two charges of aggravated robbery of cigarettes, cash and a vehicle, careless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He also issued Taikato with a first strike warning as two of the charges were qualifying violence offences.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Two rugby players suspended after secretly filming intimate videos of student

Auckland

'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings

New Zealand

Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings
Auckland

'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings

Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database
New Zealand

Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database

Death on railway line investigated, Hutt Valley services still disrupted
New Zealand

Death on railway line investigated, Hutt Valley services still disrupted

Arrests for dangerous driving during funeral procession
Rotorua Daily Post

Arrests for dangerous driving during funeral procession

Sudden exit: Radio host leaves mid-show due to family loss
Entertainment

Sudden exit: Radio host leaves mid-show due to family loss

Waiuku crash victims named as mother, young daughter, niece
New Zealand

Waiuku crash victims named as mother, young daughter, niece



Latest from New Zealand

Two rugby players suspended after secretly filming intimate videos of student
New Zealand

Two rugby players suspended after secretly filming intimate videos of student

Thomas Ryan, 24, and Oliver Bugden, 23, both pleaded guilty to the charges.

16 Jul 05:40 AM
'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings
Auckland

'Sustained period of cruelty': Starship doctor slates child protection agency failings

16 Jul 05:15 AM
Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database
New Zealand

Police officer had on-duty sexual activity with civilian, misused database

16 Jul 05:15 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search