Jimmy Heremaia has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of 18-year-old Ariki Rigby, with a minimum non-parole period set at 12 years. The young woman’s body was discovered inside a burnt-out vehicle in Havelock North, following a brutal attack tied to gang tensions.
Heremaia, a 32-year-old orchard worker from Auckland, admitted to the killing earlier this year and was sentenced at the High Court in Napier. His co-defendant, 29-year-old Ropine Paul, was sentenced to 12 months of home detention after pleading guilty to arson for his role in helping dispose of Rigby’s body.
The courtroom was filled with members of Rigby’s whānau, police officers, and relatives of the accused. Emotions ran high as her family delivered powerful victim impact statements.
Ariki’s sister, Anahera, addressed the court with visible grief, choosing to speak directly to the judge rather than her sister’s killer. “She wasn’t just my sister, she was my best friend. Her violent and senseless death turned my world into a nightmare,” she said, refusing to let that pain define her.
Justice McHeron commended Anahera for her strength, highlighting the vital role she played in the search for Ariki and in seeking justice. Her father, Peta Rigby, offered a message of forgiveness to Heremaia, telling him, “I forgive you… have a good life brother. Amen.”
In contrast, Ariki’s mother, Maimaru Ngahuka, expressed raw anguish and fury. Struggling through tears, she described the lasting devastation of losing her daughter. “You had a choice, and you chose to murder my Ariki,” she said. “I ask that this sentence never be paroled. That is the only justice for her.”
Justice McHeron acknowledged the emotional toll the crime had taken, praising the family’s resilience and acknowledging their ability to face the man responsible for their suffering. “You are determined, and within your words are glimpses of strength and healing,” he said.
Murder Over a Gang Shirt
Prosecutor Steve Manning urged the court to begin Heremaia’s sentence at 13.5 years without parole, outlining the cruel nature of the attack. According to the summary, Heremaia struck Rigby multiple times with a weapon during an argument. Instead of seeking help, he immediately began planning how to cover up the murder, ultimately burning her body in an effort to destroy evidence.
Manning argued the decision to incinerate Rigby’s body not only prolonged the family’s pain but was calculated and intended to erase traces of the crime.
Heremaia’s lawyer, Sumudu Thode, told the court that her client had expressed deep remorse. She read a letter he had written, in which he apologized to the family for his “stupid and careless” actions and acknowledged the pain he had caused.
Paul’s lawyer, Matt Phelps, emphasized that his client had pleaded guilty early, was a committed worker, and argued that a custodial sentence was unnecessary.
The Tragic Timeline
The case summary laid out the chilling sequence of events. Heremaia, identified as a patched member of the Mongrel Mob, had only recently met Rigby. The two formed a close connection. On August 31, 2022, Rigby was seen in public wearing Heremaia’s gang-affiliated t-shirt, an act that reportedly sparked outrage within the gang.
Heremaia was ordered to retrieve the shirt, which he did later that day. Days afterward, he discovered that his gang patch had been removed from his family home—allegedly as a consequence of Rigby wearing the shirt.
According to the prosecution, Heremaia then picked Rigby up and drove her to a secluded area where the two argued. Rigby reportedly attempted to strike Heremaia with a weapon, which he wrestled from her before using it to inflict fatal injuries.
He then transported her body to Paul’s residence and requested his help in disposing of it. Together, they drove to a remote site near a river, poured petrol over the vehicle with Rigby’s body inside, and set it alight.
When Rigby was laid to rest, her family described her as a vibrant, adventurous spirit who lived life at full speed.
Heremaia was taken into custody in September 2023, with Paul being arrested the following month. Their arrests came after the family made a public appeal for information.
Initially, Rigby’s death was treated as unexplained, with police mistakenly believing the remains found in the vehicle were those of an animal. A full homicide investigation followed after the truth came to light.
