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Allegations of Sexual
Abuse in NZ |
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One News Tourism New Zealand says the
country's image as a safe place to visit is under threat, partly because
tourists believe the hype and don't take enough precautions. Chief executive George Hickton
says the organisation is trying to get the message through and is warning
visitors on its website and the Lonely Planet guide that visitors should not
drop their guard while they are here. Hickton says police are also
taking the issue seriously and have an information leaflet that goes in all
rental cars with information not just about crime, but about safety in the
mountains and at sea. But Hickton says New Zealand is
not dangerous by world standards. He says international publicity about
attacks on tourists does damage our image, but thankfully it is usually short
lived. In the latest incident a British
tourist was assaulted while walking near the Haruru Falls carpark in the Bay of
Islands on Wednesday evening. Attacks on tourists: English tourist - March 2008 A
27-year-old British tourist told police she was assaulted while walking near
the Haruru Falls carpark in the Bay of Islands. The woman had been working in
the Bay of Islands for the previous two months, living with a local family. Karen Aim - January 2008 Scottish
tourist Karen Aim travelled to New Zealand on a working holiday. She died
after being brutally attacked as she walked home in the early hours of
January 17 2008 after a night out with friends. The 26-year-old was found
near the grounds of Taupo's Nui-A-Tia College. Dutch honeymooners - November 2006
A Dutch couple were on their honeymoon in the Bay of Islands when they were
kidnapped at gun point. Keith McEwen and Christopher Manuel forced their way
into the honeymooners' camper van, tied them up and threatened them with a
shotgun. The woman was sexually violated. German backpacker - September 2005
German backpacker Birgit Brauer was bludgeoned and stabbed to death in
September 2005 at Lucy's Gully near New Plymouth. Michael Wallace, 44,
was sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of 18 years after being found
guilty of killing Brauer. Theft
risk in New Zealand Questions have been raised about how
visitors are warned about the possible risks following recent tourist theft
cases. A Canadian and a German tourist had everything stolen except for the
clothes on their backs in Rotorua and Kirsten Holland says they weren't made
aware of the theft problem when they arrived. Tourism Rotorua spokesman Don Gunn
says they are currently getting in contact with all the campervan suppliers
to make sure they tell tourists of the risks. |
