Another foreign tourist has been attacked in his room at a backpackers whilst holidaying in New Zealand.
Jan Fakotor, from the Czech Republic was attacked by a New Zealand man, described as “an odd ginger man in spectacles”. An American back packer, Matt Sullivan, saw the attack on his room mate at the Hat Trick Lodge backpackers in Moteuka. The attacker was later named as Benjamin James Seeley, 38 from Auckland.
“A 38-year-old New Zealand man is appearing in Nelson District Court this morning after a tourist from the Czech Republic was stabbed at a Motueka backpackers early this morning.
The tourist fought his assailant off and received a minor wound to his leg which was treated by a local doctor.
Police say he was shaken by the apparently unprovoked attack, which happened at 12.45am.
An American tourist who was also staying in the room witnessed the attack, but was unharmed.” (source)
Almost two weeks ago three French tourists were assaulted and robbed as they slept in their campervan on the roadside near Mangamuka, Northland. Police are still searching for their attackers. Read “French tourists thought they were going to die.”
In 2008 the New Zealand-Japan society issued warnings to Asian people to be careful of their personal security and to travel in groups, other Asian groups said the country was fast losing its reputation as a “safe country to visit”.
Other countries have also issued warnings to its citizens about violent crime in New Zealand. In 2009 the Dutch government warned its nationals travelling to New Zealand of “serious crime” after a second Dutch tourist was raped at a campsite in the space of two years. See “Dutch Government Warns of New Zealand Crime”.
It really is time that the safety message for tourists in New Zealand was reinforced. With each fresh visitor attack New Zealand’s reputation and tourism industry takes another hit, something that it can ill afford with the forthcoming world cup.
See also posts tagged Back packing and tourist attacks
Recent tourist attacks and robberies in New Zealand include:
A series of random, unprovoked attacks in Queenstown
Three French tourists beaten and robbed in their campervan in Mangamuka, Northland
A family of Swiss tourists that were assaulted and racially abused in Kaitaia, Northland
Anke Kuballa and Marc Busch from Germany who were robbed in Whangarei, Northland
Two German tourists attacked in Paihia, Northland
Two American tourists were robbed at Shipwreck Bay in Northland whilst sandboarding
Asian woman, (probably Japanese) age 22, raped in her room by 2 teenagers in a home invasion in Opotiki, Northland
Three Chinese tourists attacked and robbed at Te paki, 90 Mile Beach, Northland, by two men they’d stopped to help
French tourist Anthony Cressend, beaten and robbed at campsite in Ahipara, Northland
Two Australian tourists robbed at knifepoint for their holiday money in Te Puke, SE of Tauranga.
Japanese tourist age 23 (female) kidnapped, robbed and assaulted in Rotorua by four men
French tourist (male) raped at gunpoint near Opotiki,
American peace corp twins Adam and Alex Rahmlow, 21 were robbed of all their possessions by a man they tried to help in Amberley, Christchurch.
Dutch couple raped and robbed on a campsite in Tuatapere, NW of Invercargill, whilst on their honeymoon. (Dutch govt. issued a travel warning about NZ)
Two Koreans were attacked and robbed of their possession which included a laptop computer by a man claiming to be a gang member in Blenheim.
British tourist worker sexually assaulted near Hururu Falls, Northland when she was dragged off a walking track.
Canadian tourist Jeremie Kawerninski, kidnapped, assaulted and robbed in Lower Hutt, Wellington
Dutch couple robbed and sexually attacked Haruru Falls, Northland whilst on honeymoon.
Two British women robbed and raped in their campervan at Tokomaru Bay, north of Gisborne.
Japanese tourist subjected to a prolonged and brutal sex attack in a communal area of a backpacker’s hostel in Turangi, Taupo.
Scottish woman Karen Aim brutally murdered by a youth in Taupo.
German woman Birgit Brauer murdered near New Plymouth.
Korean man Jae Hyeon Kim decapitated with a spade by white supremacist.
Japanese tourist robbed at gunpoint in Oamaru.
Irish cycle tourist Paul Mack bashed, robbed and urinated on throughout his NZ tour.
6 English and Danish tourists attacked and stabbed in Cashel Mall, Christchurch for having “foreign accents.”
Irish man Robby O’Brien beaten up in Westport.
Russian couple Denis Khotchenko and Lera Nesterova beaten and robbed in Milford, Auckland
English woman knifed and sexually assaulted in a toilet block at an A1 motor camp in Kaikoura
American campers Patrick Dykstra and Kelsey McGinley beaten and robbed at Whangarei Falls, Northland.
Australian tourist sexually assaulted on a street in broad daylight in Nelson.
Australian tourist subjected to a sex attack by Maia Crawford Rongonui whilst walking home to a backpackers in Christchurch.
Canadian tourist left with a fractured skull outside Silver Fern backpackers in Taupo.
Dutch tourist beaten and robbed at Lake Rotorua.
British man Paul Speakman and his young son beaten and robbed in a campervan at Athenree Gorge, Katikati.
Chinese woman attacked for speaking Chinese on a train approaching Petone.
Scottish visitor Stuart Martin who was left in a coma and with a boot print on his face after a street bashing in Taradale, Christchurch.
E2NZ.org 
Another tourist stabbing
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7061348/Wired-youth-stabs-men