Susan Burdett was raped and murdered in her Papatoetoe home in Auckland in 1992. A former neighbour told TV3's 3D Investigates last night that she saw Rewa sitting alone in his truck, which was parked in Ms Burdett's driveway.
It is the first time there has been an eyewitness placing of him in the vicinity of the crime.
The programme also spoke to the stepfather of Rewa's wife, Herb Manapiri, who backed up the neighbour's story saying that she had told his family and the police that she had seen Rewa.
He said the family had been carrying the secret as they were afraid and wanted to protect the grandchildren.
Mr Manapiri also claimed a bat found on Ms Burdett's bed, belonged to Rewa.
He was shown footage of the bat from the crime scene and said he had often seen the bat in Rewa's cars or when he used it to beat his dogs.
"I'm telling you that's his bat left at the scene and you know that shows that he did it," Mr Manapiri said.
He said he had spoken to police about it and described the man he told. 'I said to them, 'That's Malcolm Rewa's'. It was a ginger-headed detective."
Teina Pora, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was in 1993 charged with the rape and murder of Ms Burdett and found guilty in 1994.
Evidence at his trial said the bat was owned by Ms Burdett to use as protection.
Mr Pora's convictions were quashed in March this year when the Privy Council ruled he had suffered a miscarriage of justice.
DNA had been found at Ms Burdett's home and linked to Rewa in 1996. He was found guilty of raping her but there were two hung juries at two trials in 1998 on the murder charge.
Rewa is currently serving a sentence of preventive detention with a 22-year minimum non-parole period for 24 rapes committed between 1987 and 1996, including 14 years to be served concurrently for Ms Burdett's rape.
Police have said they will re-open the investigation if there is fresh evidence.
Police issued a statement to 3D Investigates which stated: "No unresolved case is ever closed, and as is normal for any historic matter, any new information which becomes available to police will be assessed to determine what, if any further steps are required."
Labour wants case reopened
Labour's Justice spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern last night called for the case to be reopened.
In his ruling, the privy Council's Lord Brian Kerr said that "the man who raped Burdett was undoubtedly Malcolm Rewa" and, that she was killed at the time she was raped was not open to doubt.
"The revelation tonight that an eyewitness saw Rewa parked on the street where Susan Burdett lived, by himself, adds more evidence to the case," Ms Ardern said.
"As does the testimony of a member of Rewa's family. It's simply not good enough for the Crown to assume that because Rewa is serving a sentence of preventive detention, a trial isn't warranted. Where is the justice for the family of Susan Burdett?
"No one can turn a blind eye to what has been added to this case tonight - it's time for action to be taken."
Private investigator Tim McKinnel, told 3D Investigates the new information was "undoubtedly" enough for the police to investigate.
In a statement to the New Zealand Herald, police said they were not provided with the contents of the programme prior to broadcast, and so therefore were unable to comment last night on any specific matters aired in the programme.
"We invite the programme makers to submit any relevant information to police for assessment.
"As we have previously stated police have twice charged Malcolm Rewa with the murder of Susan Burdett.
"The Solicitor-General stayed further prosecution of Mr Rewa at the conclusion of his second trial in 1998, and it would require exceptional circumstances for the Solicitor-General to consider lifting that stay."
Prime Minister John Key said it would be very unusual for Mr Rewa to be tried a third time for the murder.
"It's not impossible in theory that another case could be taken, but it's very unusual," he told TV3's Paul Henry this morning
But if somebody took information to the police, they would follow a process of looking into it, Mr Key said.
Asked if he would encourage people to do so, he said: "It's a matter for them. If they genuinely think they've got information, yes they should go and do it."
- The New Zealand Herald and NZME
