Welsh Couple Left Without A Penny In New Plymouth

It must be summer in New Zealand because a couple of Welsh holidaymakers are the latest tourists to appear in another New Zealand camper-van robbery story; there have been so many of them over the years.

“Michael Wright and Amy Murphy‘s latest bit of misfortune struck when thieves broke into their van at New Plymouth’s Back Beach while they were out surfing.
Passports, bank cards, ipods, drivers licences, cameras and cash were stolen. “It was just a complete shock,” Miss Murphy said yesterday. “Now we haven’t got a penny to our names.”
The Cardiff pair found their van ransacked after they had spent an hour and a half in the late afternoon surf. “Everything was all over the place. They had been in everywhere and all through our backpacks,” Miss Murphy said.
She was surprised nobody had spotted the thieves…” source

The previous similar story we commented on was the two US soldiers Eli and Tonia Gerhard that were robbed in Kaikoura last week. The young couple were taking a well earned break from the conflict and crime of Afghanistan. They must have thought that New Zealand would have been the last place on earth where they would have been robbed blind.

A few weeks before that British couple Jake Graham and Jess Kelly were also robbed in New Plymouth when their campervan was broken into and they lost almost everything they owned. Read more here


But there have been so many of these types of robberies in New Zealand haven’t there,  you’d think that word would have got out by now?

Perhaps not.

Always  it’s the same type of belongings that are stolen (cameras, money, passports, ipods, computers) tourists are obviously rich pickings in New Zealand, a country of vast inequalities and a grinding poverty in some sectors of the community that could go unnoticed by the casual observer,  or be passed over for being “quaint.”

Tourist authorities really should be asking themselves are they doing enough to warn visitors not to leave their belongings in unattended vehicles. The problem is that there is such a widespread misconception that New Zealand is a safe, tourist friendly safe place to holiday that some people are unwittingly  leaving themselves open to theft, sometimes accompanied by assault and battery. As in the case of the French tourists who pulled-over to sleep one evening.  Read more here.

Would it take a lot to fit hidden safes or security boxes in these vehicles? or for tourists to have access to short term safety deposit boxes, rather like mailboxes at post offices? A few more signs in car parks warning about thieves would probably be a good idea too.

Other stories you may be interested in:-


Suffolk couple put emigration plans on hold after experiencing NZ’s crime:

“Today’s Herald is reporting on British couple Dean and Tabitha Forbes who lost most of their possessions whilst on a pre-emigration trip to Auckland, New Zealand…”

British Migrants Robbed:

“”An English family who came to New Zealand to make a fresh start were left with only the clothes on their backs when their motel was burgled two days after they arrived.
Dawn and Conrad Tutin and their children Stephanie, 14, and Kiel, 12, arrived from Nottingham a week ago to begin a new life in Auckland, where Mr Tutin will work for Fisher & Paykel…””

More British tourists robbed, no gold for New Plymouth:

“Earlier today we wrote about honeymooning couple Simon and Sabine Greenslade whose campervan was robbed of outside of Auckland Zoo, losing most of their holiday and honeymooning photographs amongst other possessions.
We’ve also heard about another young British couple, Jake Graham and Jess Kelly,whose campervan was also broken into and who lost almost everything they owned in New Plymouth yesterday afternoon…”

Honeymoon couple lose precious photos, no ‘gold medal’ in Auckland

US rowing team member  robbed, world rowing championships 2010 in Queenstown

Czech Tourist, Jan Fakotor, Stabbed In Motueka
English tourist mugged in Gisborne
Chilean tourist punched, robbed in Nelson
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
A family of five robbed at the roadside whilst camping in their van at Oturere Stream, 25km south of Turangi
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.

Today's posts - click here

Pregnant Woman Threatened With Knife During New Plymouth Armed Robbery

It’s shocking that a pregnant woman was threatened with a knife during another armed robbery in New Plymouth yesterday, one of many to have hit the town over the years.

The attack was also one of the hundreds of armed robberies in New Zealand that we’ve been keeping an eye on over the last year and a half. Hardly a day goes by without one and they’re happening in all sorts of premises – banks, post shops, corner stores, hairdressers, supermarkets, clubs, bars, brothels…

Our thoughts and best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Mrs Sarah Fergusson. She was  one of quite a few people to have been threatened with a weapon during a robbery in the last two weeks.

On May 2 the Gloriana Dairy in the suburb of Highbury, Palmerston North was held up by a youth gang with a long barelled firearm that threatened the owners and customers link

Then on May 4 we wrote about a very brave young girl who stayed calm and phoned for help, as a gang of youths held a gun to her father’s head and threatened her mother when they robbed their Belt Road Dairy, New Plymouth. Their business had been held up numerous times over the last 4 years. link

Leighton Keith in the Taranaki News wrote this about the latest hold-up:

“A pregnant woman was threatened with a knife during the robbery of New Plymouth’s Whopping Big carrot yesterday.
The armed youth entered the shop and demanded cash from owner Sarah Fergusson, who is 20 weeks pregnant, about 10.55am.
A 16-year-old New Plymouth boy has been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and will appear in the Youth Court today.
Mrs Fergusson’s husband Neil was across the road getting stock when the robbery happened but saw the offender sprinting off down the road.
“I thought something is weird with that,” Mr Fergusson said.
Sarah was on the telephone to police when he got back.
“She was a nervous wreck.
“She thought it was a joke to start with.
“She heard someone say give me the money and then she saw the guy was holding a knife,” he said.
His wife ran behind the counter and handed the till draw to the man who grabbed the notes and ran off.
Mr Fergusson said the couple had worked in retail for more than 15 years and were aware how they should behave during a robbery.
“Your life is more important than the money,” Mr Fergusson said…more

Hold-ups for far this month include a Bank robber who used taxis for raids in TIMARU yesterday
17 May: Kiwibank, East HAMILTON, “aggressive robber” robbed teller at gun point, noon link
14 May: National Bank, Hornby, CHRISTCHURCH, two men with knife, 1.15pm link
14 May: TAB Bar, Mount Albert, AUCKLAND, gunman held up staff at 9.30am link
11 May: Paetiki Super Value supermarket, TAUPO, man with “short rifle” took money from shop worker, night time robbery link
11 May: Armourguard Van, TSB Bank, AUCKLAND, no info on weapons link
11 May: Taxi Driver, NEW PLYMOUTH, held up by three men, long barrelled firearm, 10.30pm link
11 May: Store in Matarangi, CROMOMANDEL, man with gun, noon link
6 May: Bollywood Star Indian Restaurant, GISBORNE, 9.30am. Man with knife link
2 May: Belt Road Dairy, NEW PLYMOUTH, Robbers held gun to a father’s head and also threatened his wife link
2 May: Gloriana Dairy, PALMERSTON NORTH, robbed at gun point link

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Indian Student Attacked In New Plymouth No Longer Feels Safe In New Zealand
• Pimping Kids in New Plymouth
• Clendon Armed Robbery

Today's posts - click here

10 Year Old Girl A Hero In New Plymouth Dairy Robbery

  The Taranaki Daily News is carrying a story about an amazing little girl who phoned police whilst a gang of robbers held a gun to her Dad's head. Just look at the ages of the thugs responsible - the youngest was only 14, not much older than the girl herself.

Police managed to catch them but her father thinks that teenagers are dealt with too leniently in New Zealand, his business has been robbed numerous times over the last 4 years:

"A 10-year-old girl kept her cool and rang police while a gang of teenage robbers held a gun at her father's head.

Five youths, two aged 17 and three aged 14, burst into the Belt Rd Dairy in New Plymouth about 6.30pm on Sunday and threatened the owner with what appeared to be a pistol.

Owner Ben Sun praised his quick-thinking daughter yesterday.

"She went out the back and rung the police and told them what was happening," Mr Sun said.

He was pleased the offenders were caught quickly but believed teenagers were dealt with too softly in New Zealand.

His eight-year-old son didn't want the family working in the dairy any more.

"He says it is not safe," Mr Sun said.

The business has been robbed numerous times during the past four years.

New Plymouth CIB Detective Sergeant Greg Gray said the group grabbed a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco and cash before leaving the shop...more"

It's been a bad few days for dairies in New Zealand, with another shop in Palmerston North also robbed by armed kids yesterday. That was attributed to the recent hike in tobacco tax.
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Indian Student Attacked In New Plymouth No Longer Feels Safe In New Zealand

Yet another disgusting example of violence against visitors in New Zealand was highlighted today in the trials of men involved with the beating and robbery of an Indian man in New Plymouth last November.

"New Zealand's reputation has been sullied in the eyes of an Indian student savagely beaten in a New Plymouth graveyard.

Solan Hoeta, 20, unemployed, pleaded guilty in the New Plymouth District Court on Friday to the aggravated robbery of the 26-year-old in the early hours of November 6 in the St Mary's Pro Cathedral grounds...

In his victim impact statement to the court, the Indian man had said he no longer felt safe in the centre of the city and feared that Hoeta and his friends would again attack him. "As a visitor from overseas it has left him with a bad impression of life in New Zealand," the judge said.

Earlier, Hoeta's counsel Paul Keegan said there was a degree of provocation in the attack as a result of the groping. (Ed. provocation? oh come on it's shameful to try to blame the victim for this!)

However, Hoeta had planned the attack, conscripting others to help lure his victim to the secluded graveyard.

He had admitted to police that he had wanted to get him for what he'd done earlier "and I wanted his nice flash stuff."

The lack of remorse outlined in Hoeta's pre-sentence report was because of Hoeta's lack of maturity and naivety, Mr Keegan said. Hoeta had since written a letter of apology for his actions.

The judge said that Hoeta had with others lured his victim into a secluded area and savagely beaten and robbed him of his watch, cellphone and wallet.

The beating left the man unconscious, with a deep cut to his chin and he had to be hospitalised.

"I have seen the aftermath in the photos today," the judge said.

Sadly, Hoeta had tended to blame the victim and his co-offenders but accepted that could be a reflection of his naivety and relative youth, Judge Davidson said.

Jayden Aldridge was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to assault with intent to injure, an assault on a female and common assault. He had punched his partner in the head several times and again offended while on bail. Judge Allan Roberts sent Aldridge to jail for one year."

Only a year?! The judge didn't exactly throw the book at the people responsible and they're likely to be back on the streets before long. No wonder the victim feels pretty let down and fears for his safety still:

"In sentencing Hoeta to 2 1/2 years in prison, Judge Bruce Davidson, of Wellington, said the sentence reflected the pre-meditated nature of the "joint escapade against a very vulnerable victim which had resulted in nasty injuries".

 "Escapade" isn't that trivialising the crime somewhat?

We're surprised that this sort of thing is starting to happen somewhere like New Plymouth, it used to have a fairly good reputation.  Perhaps its a symptom of an increase in racism during the recession that seems to be affecting most of the country. And with feeble sentences like that being given out no wonder it's getting worse.

See blog post "Discrimination against Asians still a key issue in New Zealand" - Asian New Zealanders and international students continue to experience racial discrimination and harassment, according to a report released by Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.

It seems that discrimination has increased over the last year (perhaps this is a result of a 'kiwis first' mentality during the recession?) with Asians being the most discriminated against. Overall around 10% of New Zealanders experienced discrimination and it looks like police still don't collect data on racially motivated crimes.

Today's posts - click here

Man beaten with bat in violent home invasion

More Responses To "Is Crime A Serious Problem In NZ?"

We've long been concerned about crime in New Zealand and how the country is often portrayed abroad as having a low crime rate/risk of crime. A recent report showed that 80% of New Zealanders were concerned about serious crime in the country and the issue has been explored in the Auckland based NZ Herald.

The paper asked for readers responses and they've been coming in thick and fast, we've already highlighted a few of them on here and would like to share some more with you, including a very astute one from a resident of John Key's electorate - Helensville, a small rural township north of Auckland, that has recently suffered from a spate of armed robberies.

Rose ()
I live near Helensville and their is a crime problem escalating there. In weekends and after hours there are no police and so they send units from Kumeu and Henderson which is a 30 -45 minute commute.

Crims know this and so crime is on the increase as there is not much chance crims can be apprehended in the act.

We have yobs from around Auckland and Dargarville coming down for anti social behavior every weekend - in our area close to the beach - it is vehicle and vandalism crime and poaching. They bring their guns to shoot deer, chop down the native forest for firewood, ride their unregistered motorbikes and quad so they can't be caught by locals and leave their 4 wheel drives hidden in the forest.

It is no surprise that these few yobs have now escalated into armed robbery and the murder of the cyclist in Kaukapakapa.

Locals have been complaining for years about the yob element which is easily contained by weekend road checks close to the beach where they don't expect it and a search of rego's, warrents, firearms and drugs.

Worst still it is the PM's electorate. If we have no police in weekends what does this say about the government promises?


Level Headed (New Plymouth)
Despite having travelled extensively throughout the world (more than 130 overseas cities at the last count plus hundreds of smaller towns and the like) I have been robbed only three times. Unfortunately each of those occasions was in New Zealand.

I have always been security concious and am as wary here as I am anywhere else. So I am not a victim because I am complacent when travelling at home.

It follows that New Zealand has a serious problem in particular where we look at crime against tourists.

As for crime in our area it depends what we label crime. Drunken hehaviour, drunk driving, punch ups and the like are commonplace. Its like the wild west after certain hours in the local township. So we avoid being a victim by not going there.

It sounds laughable. But its not. Our locum doctor - someone who we are trying to attract and retain - has just returned home. I asked why and the response was that he found he had to treat more victims of violent crime than his home country and found his job here distasteful. He was American.

Chris (Flat Bush)
No doubt in mind crime is a serious problem in New Zealand. Statistics would probably show that crime is worse here than in any other OECD country. I have faith in the National Party government though, while Labor with their social re-engineering gave criminals more rights than our great law enforcers.

I have worked all over the world in real difficult places and only in New Zealand I was exposed to an armed robbery myself, in a dairy one night. The robbers, equipped with weapons and threatened our lives, were caught, but no charges were filed sine the Indian dairy owners were too scared to file charges, being threatened by the robbers and their Samoan associates.

It would be the only country on the planet, apart from some African and South American countries, where criminal gangs roam the street showing off their patches and intimidating innocents. It would be the only country where police don't act on tips about drug houses, unless the frightened citizens come out in the open as witnesses.

I voted for change and sincerely hope that our new government with Mr. Key at the helm do what is needed to change the situation.

westie (New Zealand)
Many years ago we could sleep at night with the front door open and a screen on the catch.There was absolutely no concern at the time and in our area of intruders.Those days have long gone.It is now unsafe to walk around the streets in the early evenings let alone at night without some criminal or gang prospect wanting to cause problems.I feel we are far too lenient on criminals especially those that use a age restriction to avoid serving time in prison.

So what can be done about crime?I think education begins in the home and not behind the prison bars.For those parents with criminal children it is time they,the parents,were held accountable for the behaviour and antics of their children.

They were the ones who bought the child into the world and they must be held responsible for whatever actions their child does.Quite often parents don't care less where their children are or what their children are doing at night. A lot of parents find their "out" of being a responsible parent by going to the TAB,the Casino or the Pub.

KatieR (Point England)
I had two home invasion type robberies where pacifica youth broke into my house while I was home to steal stuff- they were still coming in the window after I saw them and if my male flatmate had not chased them off, it would have become violent.

We were next to Glen Innes and the police did not want to come out , and did not investigate. Right after that I moved to a wealthy Auckland area and gave up on saving for a house. I had one very petty car crime and the police were around, following up and filing reports. I only reported it for insurance.

I was talking to a police officer a few months ago- He said that the serious crime rate went up the moment sentences were decreased for burglary and theft. We should target the small, petty crimes, and the big ones will be nipped in the bud.

Also- if criminals are not fron New Zealand, we have no responsibility to pay for their imprisonment and rehabilitation. Deport criminals like Australia does- including under 18s and free the cash up for better purposes. Perhaps whole families with criminal children should be deported- it won't take too long before they get strict on their kids, or send them home at their expense.


katrina d (Papakura)
We bought a house in Papakura, need I say more. The teenagers around here are a right pain in the butt and the parents are no better off.

Unbeknown to us, we bought the house just around the corner from where Michael Choy was killed. (ed. Michael was beaten to death by a group of 12-17 year olds) Many of the neighbours have sold up and moved out of the area but we have a 30 year mortgage so we are stuck here.

However, its what you make of the situation.

I don't hide behind my curtain, neither do I allow them to intimidate me or my family.
What makes me sick is, my household are workers and we can't afford a small simple car, so we depend on public transport or pay freinds to get to and from work and yet, these dole bludging, benefit ,

Housing NZ tenants have the latest of vehicles out there. They can just walk into WINZ and have school uniforms paid 'just like that'. Even thier food is paid for , while they spend our hard earned money on booze.And yes, That does happen.!
Its also very rare to see a genuine solo parent on this side of town.

Poverty doesn't cause crimes, its these lazy a$ed clowns who think its their given right to take what ever they want.

 
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English Man Attacked And Robbed In New Plymouth

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from YahooXtraNews 10 Sept 09

"A young Englishman was attacked and robbed when he stopped his car to answer a cellphone call in New Plymouth early today.

The 23-year-old man pulled over and got out of his car in Devon Street West about 12.30am to take the call when he was hit from behind.

His attacker, thought to be a Pakeha aged between 18 and 25, held the man down with a foot on his back while he robbed him, New Plymouth police Constable Hannah Pulotu told NZPA.

She said the victim had his glasses knocked off and didn't get a good description of his attacker.

"The only thing he saw of him was when he got back in his car and saw him running off in his rear vision mirror."

He was not seriously hurt, suffering a cut above his eye when his head hit the pavement.

The man, who lives in New Zealand, had his wallet and passport taken."

Toxic Dump Uncovered Beneath Children's Playground

From the Taranaki Daily News by Kirsty Johnston:

"Toxic chemicals have been found at a children's playground in Marfell, the site of a New Plymouth's former city dump.
The chemicals were tetrachlorobenzene and trichlorophenol, both used in the manufacture of herbicides, Taranaki Regional Council director of environment quality Gary Bedford said yesterday.
Workers laying a stormwater drain discovered two drums containing chemicals at Marfell Park in May, and further excavation revealed remnants of at least seven other drums.
The Taranaki Regional Council said yesterday the chemicals were not a public health risk, but long-time dioxin campaigner Andrew Gibbs said the find was "abominable."
"It is of concern when you find those levels of chemicals under a children's playground," Mr Gibbs said.
He believed it proved the TRC's 2001 investigation which found no evidence of illegal dumping at 31 alleged contaminated sites, including Marfell Park, had been wrong.
"They've ignored the problem because of where it is. If it was in another suburb then would they care?"
The TRC launched its 2001 investigation after fears that cancer-causing dioxin waste from the Ivon Watkins herbicide plant* had been buried at various sites around New Plymouth.
Mr Bedford said yesterday that given that the Marfell site used to be a landfill up to the 1960s, dumping the chemicals would not have been illegal.
"It's not a surprise but, no, we did not know they were there," he said......."
The rest of the report may be found here: "Drums contained toxins"


*Ivon Watkins Dow (now named Dow Agro Sciences)manufactured herbicides '24D' and '245T', used in equal part in the manufacture of the defoliant Agent Orange, at its Paritutu plant for use in the Vietman war. The dioxin contaminant TCDD within '245T' is considered to be highly toxic to humans. Exposure to dioxins is alleged to have resulted in an estimated 10% increase in cancer deaths in the New Plymouth area.

Over a 30 year time span 20 million litres of the 2 herbicides were sprayed in New Zealand to control gorse and other weeds. The NZ government was said to have subsidised the use of the herbicides and 245T was both produced and used in NZ long after other countries had banned them. Production in the USA ceased in 1979 but continued in New Plymouth until 1987
See Agent Orange dump found under New Plymouth

New Zealand's Deadliest Roads: 61 Deaths so far this year

Source Stuff.co.nz
By Jonathon Howe - Manawatu Standard

"The first two months of 2009 have been the bloodiest on record for Central District roads, with the area accounting for more than a quarter of New Zealand's road deaths.

Of the 61 people killed on New Zealand roads this year, 17 died in the Central Police District, which includes Palmerston North, Wanganui and New Plymouth.

The number is the highest in the Central Police District for 14 years and the highest in New Zealand this year.

With eight deaths each, the Bay of Plenty and Waikato police districts were the second-worst affected areas.

The Central Police District experienced its lowest annual road toll ever in 2008, with 40 road fatalities."

School Bus Crash
Also in today's news, 8 students and a teacher from Gisborne High School were taken to hospital after their school minibus was involved in a collision with another vehicle on the Napier to Wairoa road. The fitting and wearing of seat belts in school buses is not required in New Zealand

According to a news report on Stuff

"Police said it appeared a car came around a corner towards the northbound mini bus and may have crossed the centre line.

The pupils suffered moderate injuries ranging from broken bones to bruising.

The car driver received facial injuries and broken bones.

The Lowe Walker rescue helicopter tried to land at the crash scene, but had to turn back because of bad weather.

The injured were taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in three ambulances.

Both vehicles were extensively damaged."

Pimping Kids in New Plymouth

A 58 year old New Plymouth man accused of pimping a 15 year old girl is continuing in his efforts to keep his name secret. If his identity became public he maintains it could seriously damage both his health and his business.

The accused has also been charged with contracting a girl aged under 18 for sex, receiving earnings from a girl aged under 18, operating a brothel without a licence, sexual connection with a girl aged between 12 and 16 and supplying drugs.

Police opposed the suppression order arguing that the accused's customers had a right to know about his activities.

It's a fine balance between protecting a person's right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty and protecting the public, accutely so when children are involved. It's hoped that the judge has got it right in this case when he stated that the name suppression should be limited

The case will be next presented in court at depositions hearing on 12 November

Link: Stuff, 3 Oct 2008