"Police have issued a warning over the perils of online dating after an alleged sexual assault in Hamilton over the weekend.Detective Inspector Greg Nicholls said a 41-year-old man was facing a variety of charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in her home on Saturday morning.
He would appear in Hamilton District Court this afternoon, he said.
"The offender and victim had connected via the internet sometime last November and had been in subsequent contact since by phone, text and email but had not previously met in person.
"The pair had planned to meet on Friday night, however when that fell through the accused had gone to the victim's house and sexually assaulted her," Mr Nicholls said.
He urged people to exercise caution.
"Wherever possible when meeting with someone for the first time meet in a public place, such as a cafe or restaurant and inform someone where you are going and who you are meeting."
A German tourist made headlines last month after travelling to New Zealand to stay with a Dunedin man she had met on the internet.
The woman, 36, struck up an online friendship with a man she believed was a 33-year-old PhD student from Dunedin in October.
When she arrived on February 8, she realised the unkempt, unemployed 54-year-old had lied about his identity.
She went to his house, where chickens lived inside among cartons and rubbish, and there was no electricity.
When he refused to let her leave the house on her own or take her passport, she contacted a person she had met on her plane, who called police.
The Armed Offender Squad were called while the pair were in Kaikoura, but she was later rescued by police.
The man would not be prosecuted, police said."
Monday, March 2, 2009
Hamilton On-Line Date Leads to Sex Assault
Friday, February 20, 2009
Another Attempted Abduction in Auckland
Although the two incidents are not thought to be linked they follow a series of similar crimes in the
region where school children have been attacked in broad daylight. One of which was the abduction and rape of a 15 year old in Henderson, by a bogus truancy officer and another the attempted abduction of a 10 year old in Stanmore Bay, Whagaparoa
Monday, February 9, 2009
Attempted Abductions in Wellington and a Brothel Hold-Up
"Police are worried a man who tried to force a 20-year-old woman into his car late at night in Wellington could strike again.
Police are seeking help to identify the short, fat, balding Asian or Middle Eastern man who approached the woman as she walked home from a trip to her local service station in Newtown about 11.30pm on Friday.
Detective Paul Baskett told NZPA the man, who was dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, pulled up alongside the woman and asked if she would like to get into his white four-door car.
When she refused he pulled his car across a driveway in front of her, got out and tried to wrestle her into the vehicle.
But the woman "made a lot of noise" and the man fled when two people called out from across the other side of the road.
Mr Baskett said the man's attempt to abduct the woman had worrying "sexual overtones" and police were concerned he could strike again.
Police wanted to hear from anyone who could help them identify the man, including the couple on the other side of the road who intervened.
He said the woman estimated him to be about 1.65m tall. His balding hair was closely shaved and he spoke with an accent.
The incident happened on Adelaide Rd."
Comment:
The abduction attempt bears remarkable similarities with other attacks.
One occurred 2 kms. away in the city in September of last year.
In that incident a 19 year old woman fought off an attacker who tried to drag her into his light coloured, four door car on Cambridge Terrace, near the Woburn Railway Station carpark.
She described him as being "about 173cm tall with dark skin and the appearance of an Indian or Somalian. He was wearing a dark-coloured parka type jacket with the hood up."
See this link to Google maps that shows the locations of the two attacks: LINK
In August 2005 there was an abduction attempt on a 13 year old girl in the Newton/Melrose area involving a white, 4 door car.
The attacker, who came from the direction of Melrose, was described as "tall, dark skinned, big build and possibly with facial stubble. He was wearing a bulky black hoody, and possibly dark coloured pants. "
The incident occurred at the junction of Mt Albert Road and Lavaud Street which is not far from Adelaide Street.
Brothel Hold Up
Also in the news from Wellington this morning was an armed robbery at the brothel "Il Bordello" which occurred at last night. The robber, who used a sawn off rifle, escaped with a large amount of cash.
The female receptionist, who had tried to escape during the robbery but was dragged back, is still in shock after the traumatic incident.
link: NZ News Yahoo
Thursday, January 29, 2009
13 Year Old Robbed and Raped in Public Toilet
By Marty Sharpe - The Dominion Post
"Hastings police are investigating a alleged sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl in a central city block of public toilets.
Senior sergeant Dave Greig said the girl was found wandering around the city centre in a "dazed and confused" condition around 8pm yesterday and was taken to the police station by members of the public.
The Hastings girl told police that between 6pm and 7pm she had been approached by a group of 5-6 teenage males outside the Russell Street public toilets
"She was allegedly taken into the toilet by those youths where her handbag was taken from her and allegedly sexually violated by one of those youths," Mr Greig said.
Police recovered property of interest in the toilets last night. The toilet block was cordoned off overnight and a scene examination would take place this morning.
"At this stage we're appealing for any witnesses who were near the toilets between approximately 6-7pm last night to come forward," Mr Greig said."
The allegation comes just weeks after two other incidents involving attacks on women in the area.
At New Year an attacker forced his way into a young woman's home in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere link and physically assaulted her.
And another just 3 days later when a 42 year old woman was attacked and pinned to the ground when walking through St Leonards Park at about 4.30am. Link
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tokoroa Sex Attack
Police are appealing for witnesses to a sex attack which occurred in the Waikato town of Tokoroa on Saturday night when a 25 year old woman was attacked in the Pine Grove subdivision between 10pm and midnight.
Tokoroa has had its fair share of crime in recent years, see link.
The most high profile probably the sexual assault and vicious murder of 66 year old teacher Lois Dear in her classroom at the Strathmore Primary School. Link NZ Herald
Her killer Whetu Te Hiko was sentenced to a minimum non parole period of 18 years.
Whetu Te Hiko had 13 prior convictions, eight of which were for assaulting women and children in 10 months, from April 2004 to February 2005.
His brother, Hamuera Te Hiko, was jailed for 14 years for the rape and manslaughter of his wife Eliza in December 2000. Link Sensible sentencing trust
Friday, January 23, 2009
Dutch Government Warns Tourists of New Zealand Crime
Edward Gay
"The Dutch Government is warning tourists travelling to New Zealand of "serious crime" after a second Dutch tourist was raped in the space of two years.
The 22-year-old woman was attacked early last Thursday as she and her 25-year-old partner slept in their station wagon at the Five Mountains Holiday Park in Tuatapere, west of Invercargill.
Police have arrested a 25 year-old man in relation to the attack.
A new heading - "Serious Crime" has now been added to the New Zealand travel advice page on the Dutch Government website.
Translated, the page says although serious crime does not happen often, the number of robberies is increasing and campers are being targeted.
The Dutch travel advice warns campers to use official camping sites and not to park up in the "wild".
The site mentions the rape of the Dutch woman last week as well as an attack in 2006."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sex Assault at Dunedin Back Packer Hotel
The man, aged 50, was found near to the hotel as police set up a cordon and spoke to the occupants at around 8:50 pm.
The hotel offers cheap accommodation and is often used by back packers and trampers. Reviews on Tripadvisor.com are mixed and the hotel is described as being like a rabbit warren, situated on a very busy road and with a car park filled with huge juggernauts. Questions are bound to be raised about security at the hotel and access by non residents.
At this stage the nationality of the victim has not been released and police have stated that the incident is not linked to two other rapes which occurred in the town over the weekend.
This blog has previously highlighted assaults on back packers and campers in NZ and the growing frequency of this type of attack on visitors to New Zealand : link
Monday, January 19, 2009
Australian Tourist Attacked in Nelson
Police are hunting for a sex attacker who assaulted an Australian tourist walking along a roadside in Nelson, South Island.
The woman had been in NZ with a tour group and had decided to walk from Tahunanui to central Nelson to buy souvenirs when the man dragged her into undergrowth near Auckland Point school.
Her screams were heard by the occupants of a passing car who came to her aid and chased the offender who has yet to be found by police. He was described as having light olive skin, and being about 180cm tall and of medium build, in his early 40s, with greying hair, stubble, bad body and breath odour.
Police have released a CCTV video of the alleged attacker:
The assault comes days after the rape and robbery of a young Dutch backpacking couple at a campsite in South Island and is part of a rising trend of violent crime in NZ.
Also in the news was the arrest of three men for the gang rape of a woman in Matamata last Friday, her nationality is not known at this stage.
On the same day residents of the small town were incensed when a 16 year old youth, out on bail for aggravated robbery despite police objections, raped a 15 year old girl within hours of his release.
NZ First MP Ron Mark commented "When is the Youth Court going to take victims into account instead of worrying about the sensibilities of vicious young mongrels?
To bail him to his home, where his family obviously doesn't give a damn and from where he already absconded at the weekend to allegedly commit rape, borders on the insane."
Matamata-Piako District Mayor Hugh Vercoe said the bail -rape issue was "extremely frustrating, Matamata is a good little town, it does not have a lot of crime and is a very tight-knit sort of place."Perhaps he would like to reconsider that statement in the light of recent events.
Another Campsite Rape
In what is getting to be a rather common occurrence in New Zealand another tourist has been sexually assaulted at a campsite in the country.
A 22 year old Dutch visitor was raped and her partner robbed at knife point whilst sleeping in their car at the Five Mountains Holiday Park in Tuatapere, west of Invercargill, South Island.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested.
Campground owners Zane and Tina Barrett said they were "absolutely devastated" by the attack and would close at the end of March.
The attacker, who is said to be known to Mr and Mrs Barrett,was reported by his mother when she recognised a tea towel and filleting knife used in the attack and shown in news reports.
Update
25 year old Maakiti Joseph Tipene was later sentenced to 10 years prison with a minimum of 7 years non parole for rape, three charges of sexual violation, two of unlawful detention, two of threatening to kill and one charge of burglary.Tipene was something of a 'career criminal'.
According to the Sensible Sentencing Trust's offender database he
"Unlawfully detained and threatened to kill a Dutch couple in Tuatapere, Southland in January 2009, and repeated sexual violation and rape of the womanTen years would seem to be a very lenient sentence under the circumstances, this man could be released back into the community to continue where he left off when he is just 32.
Alarmingly lengthy list of past convictions including, drink driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving while disqualified, driving while forbidden, substantial cheque and credit card fraud, burglary, receiving stolen goods, theft of a shop till, theft of food, theft of beer, theft of a chequebook, theft of fuel containers, theft of a car stereo, car conversion, burglary, possession of cannabis, disorderly behaviour, disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence, and other charges intentional damage etc etc "
Violent and sexual assaults on visitors to NZ are occurring far more frequently in recent years, this blog has reported some of the cases please see link: violence against tourists
Visitors to the country are well advised to exercise every precaution to safeguard their personal safety, as they would do in any other international location, and not be lulled into a false sense of security by accepting assurances that NZ is a "safe country" with low rates of crime.
The exact opposite is true - NZ has one of the highest reported crime rates in the world, see link: World Crime Rates
Click on map to enlarge
Violent crime on the increase
Police crime statistics (see link) show that in the year 2007-2008 there were 58,761 cases of violent crime, an increase of 11% on the previous year.
There were also a 3,542 reports of sex crimes, 2,364 of which were sexual attacks.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Backpackers Preyed Upon in Kerikeri
"Backpackers the world over do tend to brush up against some seedier types. NZ is not alone. I can certainly attest to this from my own experience. However, I think a discussion on Backpacker Hostels in NZ would be most useful here, since a great number seem to operate in a most unsual manner."Hostels in NZ used as half way houses?
"One Kiwi told me that a the majority of hostels within NZ are used as half way houses between prison and full release. I am not convinced that this is true, and found no evidence anywhere - but we all know how tricky it is to find evidence of anything of such damning significance in NZ. I think that the case is that many of the hostels a home to newly released prisoners, or public suffering from a range of mental illnesses. This is unquestionably true of the people I spoke with at a number of hostels in Northland. As a rough estimate I would say 75% of the people I spoke to exaplained that they were Locals, ex inmates, or they appeared in some way to have form of mental illness. (I'm not a Dr, or authorised to make that last comment, but I can express how it appeared to me)Police called to attempted rapes at Kerikeri hostelI also know of one instance, in a Backpackers hostel in KeriKeri, where a young girl was molested, in her bed at night by a known local boy, who had broken in. The police, when called explained the episode as 'high jinks' and made no effort to prosecute or even aprehend the young man. Three days later a different girl was attacked again, more violently this time.Middle aged men 'working shifts' to manipulate yound girls
I also know of two men in KeriKeri, who 'work shifts' checking into any one of the town's hostels - taking turns attempting to manipulate young girls out of the hostel and back to their home. often with success. They do this with promises of drink, drugs, and the loan of a car. Whilst I appreciate that this kind of behaviour occurs in many seasonal towns around the world I have never heard of such predatory behaviour being celebrated by the 'sharks' wider circle of friends. Perhaps I am being overly judgemental when I say that I find the practise even more bemusing from men in their mid forties.Backpacking in NZ is grimeyLike I said, I think Backpacking the world over has certain pitfalls and problems. However, the Kiwi flavour is strikingly grimey.
Police in other countries would be terrified that similar sexual assaults would reflect badly on their town, region, country. They would act! NZ is happy to sweep that 'nonsense' under the rug. If I had kids, I would not want them embarking on 'high jinks' in NZ.
And as an aside. When leaving NZ I spoke with two English lads, who had been backpacking around the country. I asked how they liked the place.
"Boring. We like our beer and that, but really, once you've jumped off one bridge and been on one speedboat what else is there to do here?"
"And the beers expensive p*ss"
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Life in New Zealand
You've probably seen the 100% Pure New Zealand ads, Lord of the Rings films and "documentaries" (I use the term loosely) showing new migrants' first few days in New Zealand. You may also have read the following statement from the Department Of Labour's Website:
"In many ways it’s not what we have that’s important to our quality of life – it’s what we don’t have! We don’t have high crime rates, our police don’t carry guns and instances of corruption are virtually unheard of. We don’t have abject poverty or hunger and we don’t have the pollution, congestion, health issues and cramped city living that we see elsewhere."More on that later.
There are some other avenues of research to wander down if you're interesting in getting a more balanced view of NZ life, away from the glare of the scenery. First, some mainstream works depicting life in New Zealand:
Once Were Warriors
source: Wikipedia
"New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, first published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence. It was the basis of a 1994 film of the same name, directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison. The novel was followed by two sequels, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? in 1997 and Jake's Long Shadow in 2002."
Whale Rider
Source: Wikipedia
"A 2003 film directed by Niki Caro, based on the 1987 novel The Whale Rider by New Zealand Māori author Witi Ihimaera. The world premiere was on September 9, 2002, at the Toronto International Film Festival"
World's Fastest Indian
Source: Wikipedia
"A film based on the legendary New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro. Munro set numerous land speed records for motorcycles with engines less than 1000 cc at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in the late 1950s and into the 1960s. Many of his records still stand to this day."
Where else to look? Most of the Daily Newspapers have an on-line edtion. A list is here, you may like to find the news for the region you're interested in. There are also many online forums where migrants discuss the ins and outs of migration in many countries, some of these sites have a tendency to supress what are perceived to be negative comments about New Zealand.
Crime Statistics
According to Nationmaster New Zealand has the second highest rate of reported crime in the world at a rate of 105.881 per 1,000 people. The top ten countries are ranked as
- Dominica
- New Zealand
- Finland
- Denmark
- Chile
- UK
- Monteserrat
- USA
- Netherlands
- South Africa
As you can see the incidence of violent crime is cause for concern (click on image to enlarge)
Hardly a day goes by without a news report of an armed robbery, unprovoked assault, incident of domestic violence or other violent crime. Here are just some of thre crime reports from around the country that are in the news today.
Woman's Body Found in Flat
Source: NZ Herald, Wed 3 Sept, 2008
"Police have launched a homicide investigation after a woman was found dead and a man injured at a central Auckland apartment building yesterday.
Police were called to the apartment in Winchester St by ambulance services shortly before 4pm.
A man in his 20s who called police to the apartments is expected to remain under police guard at the hospital for several days, as he is treated for a serious injury to his hand."
Gang role in Bashing Probed
Source: NZ Herald, Wed 3 Sept, 2008
Police are investigating whether youth gangs were involved in a brutal attack which left a South Auckland teenager in a critical condition.
"Tuatu Cecil, 19, is in Middlemore Hospital with head injuries after he was attacked by a group in Papakura about 2am on Sunday.
Police found him unconscious after responding to reports of a group of people fighting near netball courts on Smiths Ave.
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry said police had been busy interviewing people in the area where the attack happened. He said Mr Cecil had been attacked after a fight or altercation between two groups of people."
Police Hunt Sydenham Sex Attacker
Source: Press.co.nz wed. 3 Sept, 2008
"Christchurch police are seeking information from the public after a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at 6.30 last night.
The girl was walking along Selwyn Street in Sydenham when she was attacked from behind and dragged onto the grounds of Christchurch South Intermediate School.
The offender is described as a male, possibly wearing a hooded sweatshirt, and it is believed he left the school grounds via the Selwyn Street exit.
Police would like to hear from a man who was seen walking a white labrador in the area at the time."
Girl Told Accused About Sex Abuse
Source: Dominion Post Wed. 3 Sept, 2008
"A 10-year-old girl sexually abused by a paedophile - who was killed in a vigilante attack to avenge the abuse - feared he would hurt someone else if she did not speak up.
Glen Stinson, a paedophile with convictions dating to the 1960s and on bail for fresh sex charges against young girls, was killed on July 31 last year. It is alleged that he was punched and kicked to death after he was found touching the girl at a party. His body was dumped on the country driveway of a poultry farm in Foxton.
Aubrey Harrison, 27, and a woman who has name suppression, 32, have been jointly charged with his murder. They deny the charge. Bruce Tamatea has pleaded guilty."
Ambulance officer guilty of indecent assaults on patients
Source: NZherald Wed. 3 September, 2008
"A 35-year-old former ambulance driver has been found guilty of indecently assaulting patients in the back of an ambulance in Auckland in 1999 and 2000.
A jury at the Auckland District Court found the man guilty of six counts of indecent assault, four of which were on a 16-year-old schoolgirl who had been injured in a car crash.
He was acquitted of sexual violation and four other indecent assault charges.
The man has interim name suppression."
Xue Strangled Wife With Tie
Source: NZHerald Wed. 3 September, 2008
"Nai Yin Xue, who abandoned his daughter in a Melbourne railway station, used a yellow tie to strangle his wife before dumping her body in the boot of his car, a court was told today.
At a depositions hearing in Auckland District Court, crown prosecutor Brian Dickey presented evidence in the case against Xue who is charged with murdering his wife An An Liu last September.
The depositions hearing has been set down for two days, before two justices of the peace."
Rise in Public Support for Police to Carry Guns
Source: NZHerald Thurs 24 July 2008
"New Zealanders have changed their minds about an unarmed police force. More than half of those in a new survey want the police to carry firearms.
Just five years ago a majority were still opposed to the idea. Only 33 per cent supported it. Now 53 per cent would approve.
The survey of 500 people by Research New Zealand has also revealed that 44 per cent of the public are more concerned about their personal safety than they were last year.
People were asked: "How much do you approve or disapprove of the Police carrying guns?"
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the findings reflected a nation worried by a steady increase in serious violent crimes, mostly related to methamphetamine.
"It's a clear reflection of the disturbed public feeling about the amount of violence out there," he said.
........
A 2003 survey of (police)association members showed that 64 per cent did not want, or were opposed to, the general arming of police, he said.
By 2005, that figure had risen to 69 per cent."
TBC......
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