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A man who police allege is a repeat rapist has been granted bail, despite the fact he is facing at least three separate rape charges.
They say Wiremu Nikora Haunui forced one victim to change a flat tyre on a car, and told another: "That was good eh?"
Haunui was arrested and charged two weeks ago with raping an Auckland prostitute - the third rape charge laid against him - but was granted bail again even though police are investigating up to four more allegations of rape.
When arrested, he was already on bail for the other two rape charges. The 30-year-old digger-driver has been bailed to his father's house in Tokoroa.
Haunui told the Herald on Sunday he was pleased to not be in prison but was not a danger to the public as he was innocent. "I'm freaked out, man," Haunui said.
"I've been in prison but I was bailed. I just want to be left alone and spend time with my family."
He was granted bail because, under new legislation which came into force this month, police must prove defendants pose a "significant risk" of re-offending while on bail.
Haunui appeared in Auckland District Court two weeks ago charged with raping a woman in Auckland in February last year. The most recent charge is the oldest alleged offence after detectives noted similarities between the reported rapes of prostitutes in August last year, and June this year. Haunui has also been charged with abduction, sexual violation, robbery, theft and possession of an offensive weapon.
Detective Sergeant Andy King urged sex workers to talk to police if they had been attacked, as his team was working backwards from the most recent complaint in June.
He said it was likely further charges would be laid against Haunui. King would not comment on the decision to grant bail to Haunui.
Police have accused Haunui of picking up the prostitutes in his car near a corner of Hopetoun St in central Auckland frequented by street workers, where he negotiated an agreed price for sexual services.
According to the police summary of facts, Haunui would pay the street workers to then drive to a secluded spot where consensual sex acts took place. Haunui would then take his money back and force himself on the women, say police.
In the first complaint, he was alleged to have held a knife to the throat of the woman, telling her not to "f***ing say anything or I'll kill you", and then "That was good eh?"
In the second alleged attack, a woman escaped from his car but as he drove past, he told her he would kill her if she went to the police.
Haunui drove the third woman to the Hillsborough Cemetery, where he allegedly raped her. He then demanded she change a flat tyre, before allegedly raping her again.
Crowded jails targeted
Internal police papers have warned that new legislation which came into force this month was designed to ease Government concern over jam-packed jails, rather than to keep our streets safe.
Police prosecutors were shown a slide show by Kelvin Campbell, legal adviser to Police Prosecution Services.
It stated the Bail and Sentencing Act amendments were to ease Government concerns over prison numbers, create new sentences short of imprisonment, and make it harder for police to oppose bail as a result. Police documents say the new law makes it harder for prosecutors to keep alleged offenders behind bars. Two new community-based sentences, intensive supervision and community detention will also keep offenders out of prison.
