Man sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering partner

Friday 19 September 2025 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated Fri 19 Sep 2025, 11:51am

Ri Nikora has been sentenced to life in prison at the High Court in Napier for the 2019 murder of Kathleen Kawana. Nikora drove approximately 640km to leave Kawana's body in an abandoned house near Ruatoria. He will be required to serve a minimum of 12.5 years.

How they headlined it

10:59am11:51am

1. StuffFri 19 Sep 2025, 10:59am

   Man who drove 640km to dump murdered partner’s body jailed for life (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 19 Sep 2025, 11:51am

   ‘Dark and evil’ Ri Nikora to serve minimum of 12.5 years for murder of Kathleen Kawana (opens in new tab)