We’re saddened to hear there’s been another violent robbery perpetrated against tourists in New Zealand, this time in the Palmerston North (read all blogs tagged Palmerston North)
A report in gives the Manawatu Standard gives barest details of the attack against two Austrian visitors, one of whom lay bleeding from the head after their campervan was stolen. At least three attackers were involved in the assault, no information is likely to be given out that will confirm if they part of a gang or gang prospects but Highbury does have a reputation for gang-related crime.
A 19-year-old Palmerston North man will appear in court charged with aggravated robbery after two Austrian tourists were assaulted and robbed in Highbury on the weekend.
Two other men, aged 32 and 34, will appear in court on Thursday charged with unlawfully getting into a stolen motor vehicle in relation to the same incident.
The two male tourists were being driven around the city by one of six passengers who were riding with them in their campervan.
The driver stopped the van at the intersection of Dalwood Grove and Clarke Ave about 1am on Saturday and told the pair to get out.
One of the tourists was assaulted with a bottle, while the other managed to escape and go for help… more here
There seems to have been the suggestion that the attack may have been premeditated and the report gave no hints as to why the van driver stopped in this area in the early hours of the morning.
Highbury is described in Wikipedia under Gang-related Crime
- The suburb of Highbury has had the most gang-related, violent crime incidents (including shootings, serious assaults and stabbings) nationwide in the past decade. Members of the Highbury community have attempted to alleviate the negative aspects and perceptions of the suburb, but its violent past has made it known to other residents of Palmerston North as the most dangerous part of the city.”
The junction where the attack took place.
Our advice to tourists in New Zealand is to take every possible care with their personal safety and not to give lifts or rides to strangers: if you wouldn’t do it in your own country never do it in New Zealand.
New Zealand has a reputation for tourist attacks and robberies, campervan tourists often become crime victims. You may also be interested in our blogs
Australian honeymooners lose it all two tourists robbed near Milford Sound
Te Anau Troubled By Tourist Attacks -drunken youths attack visitors in Te Anau
Chilean Tourist Robbed, Loses Life’s Work robbed in a motel near Auckland international airport
Honeymoon Couple Lose Precious Photos, No ‘Gold Medal’ British couple robbed outside of Auckland zoo
Czech Tourist, Jan Fakotor, Stabbed In Motueka man stabbed in a Motueka backpackers
English tourist mugged in Gisborne female tourist punched and handbag stolen in a street attack, delaying her departure from NZ
Chilean tourist punched, robbed in Nelson man attacked on Nelson cathedral steps by three teenagers
A group of students that were beaten and robbed whilst on a treasure hunt at the Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa, Northland
A series of random, unprovoked attacks in Queenstown
Previous robbery of British tourists at Kerosene Creek
Tourists robbed at Kerosene Creek
Three French tourists beaten and robbed in their campervan in Mangamuka, Northland – police have yet to resolve this crime
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, Bay of Plenty
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, Bay of Plenty
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 and robbed 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 
The race of the perpetraitors ??? Why is it never stated ??
I know you are trying to imply that the perpetrators group was most likely Polynesian or Maori Kiwis, Which is most likely true, I would agree they are not liked for obvious reasons, however I wont go too deep into your internal civil sectarian issues. But I have seen similar behavior from so called “European” Kiwis (Reality English and Irish Settlers). Your Polynesian Kiwis tries to screw people over in the front like a pack of wolves, while your “European” Kiwis tries a different kind of approach and pick on you and screws you over the back like a vulture, undermining you under their breath wherever they can, work, service, housing. Regardless we are always the target, the immigrants, Be it Romanians or Italians, Turks or Persians, Hindus or Muslims, If you are an immigrant, don’t talk in a funny voice you will be subjected to unwarranted hateful attitude. We are always the target, And I am not sure if Its safe for both physical and mental state for an immigrant to mix with such a intimidating unapproachable passive aggressive crowd.
I find it regardless of race, unless you really know a new zealander, Majority of Kiwis are best not to be Trusted, Most Kiwis are ignorantly full of Venom and fake smiles of which underneath is their hate and anger towards you, jealousy and all the unwarranted emotions of their miserable lives that you had nothing to do, all boiled and ready to burst out on you..
“if you wouldn’t do it in your own country NEVER do it in New Zealand.” – Valuable advice,