Former Te Rūnanga o Ngāpuhi chair Rāniera Sonny Tau has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for indecent assault after a seven-year legal battle.
Sentenced at Whangārei District Court yesterday, Tau was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one charge of perverting the course of justice.
The charges stemmed from the assault of a 16-year-old and an attempt to offer the victim and their whānau $20,000 as a settlement, which was declined.
Tau served as chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāpuhi from 2009 to 2019, briefly stepping down in 2015 after being convicted for attempting to transport five frozen kūkūpā in his suitcase at Invercargill Airport.
He was also charged at the time with perverting the course of justice for trying to persuade his nephew to take full responsibility.
Judge Taryn Bayley considered Tau’s 40 prior convictions—dating back to the early 1970s—when delivering the sentence.
Tau will have to appear before the Parole Board to determine his release date.
SEXUAL HARM HELP
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 [email protected]
• 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.
