Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
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
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • 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

Sister's 'beautiful' mission: Hopes of ending sorrow at place where murdered teen was discovered

Neil Reid
By Neil Reid
Senior reporter·NZ Herald·
18 Oct, 2022 11:47 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

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

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Ariki Rigby's family release tribute video
Fighting for 'justice': Ariki Rigby's family release tribute video to the Herald as they seek justice for teen found dead in torched car. Video / Supplied ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • subtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialog
    • subtitles off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      4
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Fighting for 'justice': Ariki Rigby's family release tribute video to the Herald as they seek justice for teen found dead in torched car. Video / Supplied
      NOW PLAYING • Ariki Rigby's family release tribute video
      Fighting for 'justice': Ariki Rigby's family release tribute video to the Herald as they seek justice for teen found dead in torched car. Video / Supplied ...

      When dusk falls on Hawke's Bay, a series of solar lights placed around the spot teen murder victim Ariki Rigby's body was found now shine brightly.

      The solar lights have been installed at a memorial garden set up by loved ones of the 18-year-old at the site where her badly burned body was discovered in a torched car at River Road Recreational Reserve on the outskirts of Havelock North.

      Individual letters have been placed around the exact spot the car was set alight – with the ground still displaying burn marks seven weeks on from the crime that shocked Hawke's Bay - spelling out "Aroha" and "Ariki".

      Read More

      • Murdered teen Ariki Rigby's sister: 'No one deserves ...
      • Havelock North homicide victim Ariki Rigby planned ...
      • 'Have the courage': Family plea to those who know who ...
      • Havelock North homicide: Slain Napier teen Ariki Rigby's ...
      • Body in torched car: Teen homicide victim's journey ...
      • 'Our little girl': Family pay tribute to teen homicide ...

      The garden features an assortment of real and plastic flower tributes.

      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $10
      $2
      per week
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      Or
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Handwritten and painted tributes included an assortment of cards, one of which says "I love you".

      Ariki Rigby was murdered just a few weeks before she was due to celebrate her 19th birthday. Photo / Supplied
      Ariki Rigby was murdered just a few weeks before she was due to celebrate her 19th birthday. Photo / Supplied

      Along the rusted metal railings on the edgings of the carpark where the car was torched and abandoned, "Ariki" is written in pink paint.

      Helium balloons have also been placed over the past couple of weeks; including some on what would have been her 19th birthday this month. A bright yellow one – which has since deflated – featured the message: "Justice for Ariki".

      As police continue to hunt Ariki's killers – they say they are making "good progress" - her heartbroken older sister Anaherā Rigby said while it was "nice" that grievers were visiting to pay their respects, she wanted the spot to eventually not be known as a place of tragedy.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "I would love for that place to be so beautiful," Anaherā said.

      "I have great plans for that place. Everyone goes there to mourn her . . . I know that. It is a hard place to go to."

      On what would have been Ariki's 19th birthday, family members and kaumatua braved wind and rain to hold a service in her honour and bless the site.

      A memorial garden with written, floral and solar light tributes to murdered teen Ariki Rigby has been erected at the River Road Reserve carpark. Photo / Neil Reid
      A memorial garden with written, floral and solar light tributes to murdered teen Ariki Rigby has been erected at the River Road Reserve carpark. Photo / Neil Reid

      Almost seven weeks have now passed since Ariki's body was found in a burned-out car.

      Discover more

      New Zealand

      Cruises return, flights sell out into Hawke's Bay for long weekend

      19 Oct 02:10 AM

      The 18-year-old was killed during an unplanned holiday in Hawke's Bay to see her father and step-mother. Anaherā believes her life was brutally ended on the day that she was scheduled to return to Auckland.

      Anaherā also said she believed her sister was beaten to death before being dumped in the car, which was then torched.

      She also made an impassioned plea for those who know who did it stop "protecting" them.

      Messages of love are dropped off regularly at the spot where Ariki Rigby's body was found in a torched car. Photo / Neil Reid
      Messages of love are dropped off regularly at the spot where Ariki Rigby's body was found in a torched car. Photo / Neil Reid

      "My baby sister didn't deserve to die like that. Even if she wasn't my sister, nobody deserves to die like that . . . beaten up, shoved in the back of a car and then torched and then left there.

      "Maybe they love these people and they don't want to turn them in. But they need to remember that those people are dangerous. They took a little girl's life, she was only 18 years old. She had a whole life in front of her.

      "Our community isn't safe with them walking around, even if they are your family or your friends. They could do it again."

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Anaherā Rigby is on a mission to spread to encourage people to dob in her sister's killers, as well as honouring the spot where Ariki's body was found. Photo / Supplied
      Anaherā Rigby is on a mission to spread to encourage people to dob in her sister's killers, as well as honouring the spot where Ariki's body was found. Photo / Supplied

      Anaherā and Ariki had a strong bond.

      Anaherā said the past seven weeks had been tough on the entire family, but she was trying to stay positive about the police investigation and also fill her thoughts with happy memories of her younger sister.

      She remembered her as a vibrant young woman who had huge plans for the future.

      "My sister wanted to do everything," Anaherā said.

      "She wanted to save up and travel around the world.

      "She was coming back to Auckland, she had a job interview . . . she had everything going for her. I was so proud of her . . . my sister wanted to change the world and have everyone come together.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "She was such a free spirit. I was so proud of her and told her to, 'Stay safe sister wherever you go'."

      Ariki Rigby's christian name has been written on the rusted carpark barriers near where her body was found. Photo / Neil Reid
      Ariki Rigby's christian name has been written on the rusted carpark barriers near where her body was found. Photo / Neil Reid

      Ariki - born and raised in Hawke's Bay – had lived in Auckland for the past year.


      "She was going to go and see our little brother in King Country, but he wasn't home, " Anaherā said of Ariki's trip. "So she changed her mind and went to Hawke's Bay instead."

      She had spent a month in Hawke's Bay.

      Flowers, cards - including one which says 'I love you', balloons and other tributes mark the site where Ariki Rigby's body was found almost seven weeks ago. Photo / Neil Reid
      Flowers, cards - including one which says 'I love you', balloons and other tributes mark the site where Ariki Rigby's body was found almost seven weeks ago. Photo / Neil Reid

      "That very day that they did this to her, she was supposed to come home," she said.

      "She even put a status on Facebook that she was coming home and whoever wanted to come and visit her to see her before she left [for Auckland]."

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      She said police had told the family they were making "good progress" with the homicide investigation.

      Family members were also being pro-active in trying to uncover information that could lead to arrests, including putting up flyers around Hastings and Flaxmere.

      Family of Ariki Rigby have placed flyers in shops around Hastings and Flaxmere appealing for information. Photo / Neil Reid
      Family of Ariki Rigby have placed flyers in shops around Hastings and Flaxmere appealing for information. Photo / Neil Reid

      The A4 sheets of paper feature two photos of Ariki, with the message: "Any information on Ariki Rigby's death would be much appreciated".

      "Family want, and deserve closure. We won't rest until we do. We'll find out who did this to our girl. You didn't deserve this!"

      Subscribe to Premium

      The flyers include Crime Stopper's tip line where anonymous tips can be made.

      Anaherā said any information the family received was also being reported straight to police.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "We are very hopeful and confident that with whatever information they have they will find them [those responsible] soon," she said.

      • Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 quoting file number 220905/1265. Information could also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

      Save
        Share this article

      Latest from New Zealand

      Premium
      New Zealand
      |Updated

      'Unprecedented growth': $55m expansion for Tauranga shopping centre

      New Zealand

      'Deeply concerned': Nurses vote to strike again in September

      New Zealand

      Retired farm dog Fudge up for Top Dog With a Job


      Sponsored

      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      Retired dairy farmer knits more than 1000 blankets for neonatal babies
      Northern Advocate

      Retired dairy farmer knits more than 1000 blankets for neonatal babies

      New clashes in Serbia as political crisis escalates
      World

      New clashes in Serbia as political crisis escalates

      ‘Landmark’ social housing block sold off by Kāinga Ora for $1m
      Wellington

      ‘Landmark’ social housing block sold off by Kāinga Ora for $1m

      Diesel spill in waterway after fatal tanker crash near Rotorua
      Rotorua Daily Post

      Diesel spill in waterway after fatal tanker crash near Rotorua

      West must not be cowed by Putin, warns head of British forces
      World

      West must not be cowed by Putin, warns head of British forces

      US man found guilty of rape after fake death scheme
      World

      US man found guilty of rape after fake death scheme



      Latest from New Zealand

      Premium
      Premium
      'Unprecedented growth': $55m expansion for Tauranga shopping centre
      New Zealand
      |Updated

      'Unprecedented growth': $55m expansion for Tauranga shopping centre

      Tauranga Crossing is adding 8100sq m of new retail space by October this year.

      14 Aug 11:19 PM
      'Deeply concerned': Nurses vote to strike again in September
      New Zealand

      'Deeply concerned': Nurses vote to strike again in September

      14 Aug 11:18 PM
      Retired farm dog Fudge up for Top Dog With a Job
      New Zealand

      Retired farm dog Fudge up for Top Dog With a Job

      14 Aug 11:17 PM


      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet
      Sponsored

      Farm plastic recycling: Getting it right saves cows, cash, and the planet

      10 Aug 09:12 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
      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $10
      $2
      per week
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      Or
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search