The hijacker has been specifically mentioned in Parliament by Winston Peters in 2004 as a recidivist. Apparently a refugee from Somalia with a large history of encounters with police while in New Zealand, estranged from family and the the local Somali expatriate community.
Plane Hijacker's Troubled History
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...0491514&pnum=0
It's interesting to see how little bits of the story emerge, or have changed in the last day. For instance, at least the majority of knife injuries were sustained after landing. Apparently three were injured, including one passenger.
I understand that the hijacker is under psychiatric observation, to which she agreed voluntarily.