The partner of a man killed in Invercargill last year has hit out at authorities for the lack of communication about the alleged murderer being on the run.
Naya Ropiu Fabian Wharekura is accused of murdering Chad Parekura, who was fatally stabbed in Invercargill in April last year.
Wharekura was released on bail, however, Waikato Police said last Sunday they are now actively seeking him after the 28-year-old breached his bail conditions.
A police spokesperson told Newshub on Thursday enquiries to locate Wharekura are still ongoing.
Parekura’s partner Heidi-Page Hunwick told AM on Thursday she was made aware Wharekura was on the run by a family member who was told by a court authority.
She told AM co-host Ryan Bridge she has yet to hear from anyone outside the family to say he's on the run.
"I think it's really frustrating to put it lightly. I think there should definitely be a lot more support in that area," she said.
"The fact that only one family member being told and updated is not good enough. You'd think there would be a kind of safety thing around it and I haven't even been contacted personally myself and I have our three-year-old son."
Wharekura isn't the only accused murderer out on electronic bail in New Zealand. Figures released by the Corrections Department to NZ Herald on Wednesday showed there are currently 31 people charged with murder out on electronic bail.
Hunwick believes enough is enough and is calling for change.
"I'm outraged, to say the least, and the fact that he was even allowed out on electronic bail on such serious charges is mind-blowing. It shouldn't be a thing."
Police Association president Chris Cahill told AM following Hunwick's interview, it's "pretty disappointing" that Wharekura has been able to breach his bail conditions and go on the run.
He believes it highlights a bigger issue that the focus of crime is too much on the offender rather than the victims.
"I can see how upset she would be and scared," he said.
"What we've got a problem within New Zealand at the moment is the balance has gone away from victims of crime and everyone looks around at what we can do around the offender," he said.
"What is the best for the offender? I get this person is a suspect, they're accused they haven't been convicted but the reality is the balance needs to go back to the victims of crime in New Zealand."
The news of Wharekura being on the run has not only affected Hunwick but also her three-year-old son.
Hunwick told AM she hasn't told her son about Wharekura being on the run, but she believes he knows something is wrong.
"I've been trying to keep it as normal as possible. He's going to kindy but he's a bright three-year-old. He can read everybody's energy and he knows there's something wrong," she said.
When asked how the news is affecting her, Hunwick said her "anxiety is through the roof".
"Just the fact that this guy got the opportunity to spend the next ten months with his children until his trial, an opportunity that Chad and Tatum don't have any more and he's just taking it for granted. it's disgusting," she said.
Hunwick paid tribute to Parekura, telling AM he was a "very, very proud dad".
"He was like the best dad that you could ever ask for. So hands-on. He was like the helicopter parent; I was chill," she said.
"He loved working. He was doing dairy farming down in the Invercargill and he was enjoying that so much, just that kind of living."
Despite Parekura tragically being gone, his family are doing all they can to keep his spirit alive and celebrate his life.
"We have his photos everywhere, like everywhere. The urupā he's in is close to our home so we visit him daily," she said.
"We do something for him, even if it's just a dinner on the 23rd of every month. We talk about him non-stop in our homes. His spirit is still definitely alive in our family."
Watch the full interview with Heidi-Page Hunwick in the video above.
