Christchurch woman alleges two-day captivity, seeks emergency relocation from Kāinga Ora housing

Alleged assault and captivity in Kāinga Ora home sparks urgent rehousing plea

A Christchurch woman has alleged she was held captive and repeatedly assaulted over two days in May, 2025, inside her Kāinga Ora residence. She has since requested emergency relocation, citing continued threats to her safety and emotional trauma from remaining in the property where the events took place.

The woman, referred to as Joanna* for legal reasons, reported that the incident began when a man she had briefly spoken to at a bus stop weeks earlier arrived unannounced at her home on Tong Yin Street. Believing it to be a friend, she opened the door and was allegedly attacked and forced inside.


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Joanna claims she was strangled, punched, kicked, and sexually assaulted multiple times during the ordeal. She said she was held in her upstairs bedroom without access to medication, was not allowed near windows, and was kept under constant threat.

Emergency services respond, accused detained at scene

After nearly two days, Joanna said she escaped after discovering the man asleep in another room. She fled to a neighbor's house and contacted police. Officers, including the armed offenders squad, entered the property and arrested the alleged offender at the scene.

She was hospitalized for several weeks, undergoing facial surgeries and treatment for head trauma. Joanna says she is now partially blind in one eye and suffers from a concussion and post-traumatic stress disorder. Photographic evidence taken in hospital reportedly supports her claims.

A man has been remanded in custody and has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including rape, kidnapping, and strangulation. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.

Joanna reports unwanted contact from prison, corrections admits oversight

Joanna also alleges that since the man’s incarceration, she has received letters and phone calls indirectly linked to him. She believes the letters were sent by another inmate on the accused's behalf, violating court-imposed no-contact orders.

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Jo Harrex, general manager of Christchurch Men’s Prison, acknowledged that a systems failure allowed the correspondence to occur. “I acknowledge how distressing this unwanted contact would have been for the victim, and we have taken immediate steps to prevent it from happening again,” Harrex said in a statement.

Corrections confirmed the inmate had a no-contact order and admitted the oversight in screening outgoing mail. Measures have now been reinforced to prevent similar breaches, with staff reminded to monitor mail activity more closely.

Kāinga Ora relocation request faces delays despite support from advocates

Joanna has requested to be moved from her current Kāinga Ora property due to safety concerns. With the support of hospital staff and a social worker, she claims to have contacted her housing manager weeks ago but says she received no response until media inquiries were made.

Liz Krause, Canterbury regional director of Kāinga Ora, stated that tenants seeking relocation for safety reasons must apply through the Ministry of Social Development. She added that no contact was logged from Joanna until recently, though Joanna disputes this and says her advocates have reached out on her behalf.

Krause confirmed the timeline for rehousing depends on the availability of other properties. Joanna says the delay is unacceptable and is exacerbating her trauma. “I hate that house. I hate it,” she said.

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Joanna has since written to Christchurch Men’s Prison to block future correspondence and is working with authorities to ensure her safety as she awaits a new housing assignment.