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

No Gold For NZ Honeymoon Couple

A  couple honeymooning in Auckland didn’t have the same Gold Medal rapid response that an American rowing team member got just three days later, when they too were burgled hours before leaving New Zealand.

British newlyweds Simon and Sabine Greenslade were married in August in Germany and had been honeymooning in New Zealand. At the end of their holiday they parked outside of Auckland Zoo and it was there that their campervan was ransacked on 6 November, the last day of their honeymoon – according to a report in the NZ Herald.

During the robbery the couple lost a laptop and iPod with their wedding photos, shots of their NZ holiday and months of Mr Greenslade’s programing work were taken from their van.

Coincidentally the unnamed American sportsman also lost a laptop and iPod in his burglary.

Unfortunately there was no gold medal for this couple, they got a clunker. The Herald said:

An appeal to police in the aftermath of the theft didn’t produce any results, says Ms Greenslade.
“They simply gave us a crime reference number and left it at that.”

The young couple had to get back to the UK with the help of the motorhome company, who replaced some of their missing belongings.

The news of this robbery has filtered out in the hope that the couple may retrieve some of their lost photos, which are obviously irreplaceable.

We wish them good luck with that, although their chances are pretty slim ten days after the event, ‘miracles’ have been known to happen.

Wouldn’t it be splendid if all tourists who experienced loss or crime in New Zealand got a gold medal response. Not just those who have a high profile internationally.

Also read:
US Rowing Team Member Robbed, World Rowing Championships 2010: 9 November 2o10

“The United States rowing team has just had an unpleasant brush with New Zealand’s spiralling crime problem.
On Saturday a member of the team had a number of personal items stolen after the World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro.
A Police press released managed to turn what could’ve been a PR clunker into a  ‘gold medal’ news story for the police (and New Zealand) when they apprehended the young burglars responsible and returned the stolen goods to the rower just minutes before he left the country:
“After speaking to management at the teams’ hotel, police tracked the stolen iPod, laptop and other belongings to three brothers aged 14, 15 and 17, who admitted the theft.
More stolen property was also found at an Otorohanga property, 58km southwest of Hamilton in the King Country.
Police contacted a man in Otorohanga who admitted receiving the laptop and “it was explained the significance of the theft and the damage to this country’s reputation and he agreed to bring it into the Hamilton Police Station.
“From there an aunty of the offenders helped Police recover the victim’s camera, the US team left Hamilton yesterday about 6pm for an 11pm flight and we needed to get all the property recovered, documented and back to the victim. Time was against us and there’d be no ‘B’ final if we didn’t make it.”” Smith (Ed. Sergeant Dale Smith of the Hamilton Proactive Policing Team) said.” Read more here – police win race to return rower’s stolen property

We particularly liked the section that said
“It would be fair to say that while the rest of the country is celebrating the achievements of our teams on the water the team in blue delivered a gold medal performance as well in terms of New Zealand’s reputation of a safe, friendly place to visit.”
Well done to the police for working with the community and relatives of the thieves to bring about a successful conclusion to this sorry event. But, if New Zealand was that safe the rower’s hotel room wouldn’t have been burgled in the first place, would it and he would have left the country with only fond memories? If only other tourists could’ve been so lucky!”

Other stories you may find interesting
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

Previous Robbery Of British Tourists At Kerosene Creek.

Back in December we wrote about how a group of "international tourists" (their nationality was never released) had been attacked and robbed of their car and possessions by a group of people whilst swimming at Kerosene Creek. At the time we said that locals were wary of parking at the Creek and at a number of other locations, we asked if this information was given to tourists.

What we didn't know was that 3 British women lost their belongings at the same location a few years earlier. The British women were unaware of the risks they were exposing themselves to and believed the area to be safe.

After the robbery the chair of the local tourism advisory board recommended that tourist attractions be graded according to their safety. This was back in the day when tourism chiefs were free to talk about visitors being made aware of the risks of crime in New Zealand.

His was was an excellent idea and perhaps the group of "International Travellers" would have avoided becoming the victims of crime if it had been adopted.

This from Kelly Blanchard of the Rotorua Daily Post

"When Anna Wright, Louise Wootton and Sarah McElhiney told people in Rotorua they had been robbed of their bags from the boot of their car at Kerosene Creek, no-one was surprised.

The English tourists have been left wondering why people tell tourists to go there if they know there is a chance they could lose all their possessions.

The girls found out about the hot water creek from reading the New Zealand edition of Lonely Planet. Their copy of the book had no warnings about crime in the area, although the latest edition has a warning that "cars have been broken into in this area, don't leave your valuables in your vehicle".

Senior Sergeant Dave Wilson said the car park at Kerosene Creek had been changed recently and there had been a noticeable reduction in thefts from cars in recent months.

Rotorua Tourism Advisory Board chairman Neville Nicholson suggested attractions, activities and even campervans should be ranked according to their safety. Visitors could then be given a flyer reminding them to stay clear of any attraction that did not have a safety stamp.

Mr Nicholson said visitors often dropped their guard because they perceived New Zealand as a safe destination.We are absolutely sick and tired of it. These mongrels are ruining our country and ruining our reputation."

Rotorua police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne suggested Rotorua residents continue to recommend places such as Kerosene Creek to visitors but also make sure they told them of the potential risks.

He said some people were afraid to admit crime occurred in certain areas because it could affect the area's image.

"It's no good not advising people about the risks ... it helps to just remind them that it is a place that is sometimes preyed on and if they see anyone dodgy hanging around, they should contact police."

 Wise words and has anything changed since?

Today's posts - click here

Deaths Of 3 British Tourists In Christchurch - Relative Says Power Poles Should Be Moved (Updated)

"Power lines should be put underground or power poles moved back from the road to prevent more tragedies like this week's triple fatality in Christchurch, a relative says.

Three members of an English family died when their car struck a pole after the driver fell asleep in South New Brighton. (see our blog post 3 English people killed in Christchurch car crash")

Early yesterday, Bruce Richard Wing, 21, was killed when his car struck a pole on Wakanui Rd in Ashburton. (see our blog post 2 More Deaths on NZ's Roads)

Last year, 36 people died in crashes involving a pole or post, 173 received serious injuries and 745 minor injuries, national road-safety statistics show.

Traffic engineer Tony Francis, a relative of the three killed on Wednesday, said something good could come of the tragedy.

"We need to try and make people understand that poles need to be addressed. People should not die when they strike a pole going at just 35kmh.

"A power pole is one of the most unforgiving things you can hit."

Francis said fatalities could be avoided by putting power lines underground or placing poles as far back from the road as possible, which was more practical in rural areas. Installing street lights that would absorb the impact and bend when struck by a car would also help .

The Christchurch City Council has no programme to bury cables because of the high cost.

In some cases, lines are put underground when footpaths are upgraded.

A recent example was a stretch of Bridge St, 200m from the site of Wednesday's fatal crash in Estuary Rd.

A council spokeswoman said it cost $1 million a kilometre to put power and telephone lines underground.

Telecommunications and power lines in Christchurch are jointly owned by Orion and Telecom.

Orion chief executive Roger Sutton said it would cost $1 billion to put all overhead cables in Christchurch underground.

Every effort was made to locate power poles as far back from the road as possible, but often property owners would not give permission for the lines to cross their land.

Orion reviewed safety whenever there was a crash involving one of its power poles, Sutton said."

We agree, we think that the power poles are way too close to the edge of the road and the pavements are so low that they didn't deflect even a low speed impact. If the power poles can't be removed, and the cables routed underground, the posts should be changed so that they do absorb an impact. Power companies returned record profits in New Zealand last year, let no one say this cannot be afforded.

Whilst we appreciate driver fatigue was a factor in this crash it should not have resulted in the deaths of 3 people who were wearing seat belts and travelling at low speed. The design of the urban environment and surrounding infrastructure must be called into question. It's too easy to always lay the blame with the driver, even if he blames himself.

Update from Yahoo.co.nz News

"Electricity and gas supplier Vector is to "sacrifice" a power pole in the name of safety.

The company will film "a controlled car versus power pole scenario" in Hobsonville, 30km northwest of downtown Auckland, today and tomorrow.

The film would be used as an educational tool at staff safety workshops, executive officer Simon Mackenzie said.

"Our people face serious danger everyday, so it is essential that we provide them with the right tools and training to ensure they go home safely," he said.

Cars hitting poles was one of the most common causes of problems or outages to the network. Mr Mackenzie said the fire service would supervise."

3 English People Killed in Christchurch Car Crash

"How does this happen when you are doing 35kmh in a car where airbags went off and you were wearing seatbelts? It's a huge wake-up call for everybody. The circumstances plot against you - how a trivial thing can turn into something as disastrous as this." (Quote from the driver's brother on TVNZ) See "Power poles should be removed"


View Larger Map, power poles on edge of Estuary Road

YahooXtra News

"Police have released the names of the three British tourists killed in a car crash in Christchurch.

Three-year-old Iva Harper and her grandmother 60-year-old Sera Eades died in the crash, along with Mrs Eade's cousin, 68-year-old Valerie Bryan.

They are all from Derbyshire in England and arrived in the country just days ago to visit family.

Mrs Eade's husband Michael Eade was driving when their car hit a power pole on Estuary Rd in New Brighton at 6.20 last night. He is in a stable condition in Christchurch Hospital.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Fabish says funeral arrangements are being made with family and the UK High Commission."

left to right): Iva Harper, 3, her grandmother Sera Eades, 60, her great grandfather Bob McCombe, her grandfather Geoff Eades, 62, and Valerie Bryan, 68.

Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of all those involved.

Some reports have said that the group had been in the country for three days before the crash (ed. surely long enough to get over jet lag?) and that Mrs Eades was from Middlesex and her granddaughter from London.

Police statements suggest that jetlag/driver fatigue may've been a factor and that the vehicle was travelling at 35-40km/hr (20-25 mph) when it hit the post. Weather conditions were said to have been good at the time. Sunset in Christchurch is presently at around 6.20pm so it would've been reasonably bright at the time.

The British press has also published accounts of the crash, one is linked to here: Guardian.co.uk

Road accidents death and injury rates in New Zealand are the second highest in the developed world, twice that of the UK.

See also: Article on Road Design from Wikipedia:

"Road design"

"See also: Road traffic safety

A 1985 US study showed that about 34% of serious crashes had contributing factors related to the roadway or its environment. Most of these crashes also involved a human factor.^[6] The road or environmental factor was either noted as making a significant contribution to the circumstances of the crash, or did not allow room to recover. In these circumstances it is frequently the driver who is blamed rather than the road; those reporting the accident have a tendency to overlook the human factors involved, such as the subtleties of design and maintenance that a driver could fail to observe or inadequately compensate for.^[25]

Research has shown that careful design and maintenance, with well-designed intersections, road surfaces, visibility and traffic control devices, can result in significant improvements in accident rates. Individual roads also have widely differing performance in the event of an impact. In Europe there are now EuroRAP tests that indicate how "self-explaining" and forgiving a particular road and its roadside would be in the event of a major incident.

In the UK, research has shown that investment in a safe road infrastructure programme could yield a ⅓ reduction in road deaths saving as much as £6billion per year.^[26] A consortium of 13 major road safety stakeholders have formed the Campaign for Safe Road Design which is calling on the UK Government to make safe road design a national transport priority.^[27]"

Emily Jordan Riverboarding Death: Court Told Doubts About Mad Dog's Safe Operational Plan. UPDATED

Picture Birmingham Mail

See other posts about the trial here: Emily Jordan

From ODT 21 August

"Allegations a company did not have an "industry standard" safe operational plan and was "irresponsible" for not carrying a rope were some of the issues discussed at length by Maritime New Zealand's whitewater sports expert witness in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

In the prosecution following the death of English tourist Emily Jordan during a river boarding trip on the Kawarau River on April 29 last year, Maritime New Zealand's whitewater sports expert witness, Donald Calder, said while the company's safe operational plan at the time noted risks in the river, there were no steps shown to "eliminate, isolate or minimise hazards".

"I do not consider the Mad Dog safe operational plan meets industry standards."

...On the day, Ms Jordan and her boyfriend, Jonathan Armour, went on the river-boarding trip, former Mad Dog operations manager Nicholas Kendrick had noted the Kawarau River was low and the rock in Frogz Eddy which Ms Jordan became trapped on was a hazard.

On Tuesday, Mr Kendrick said he had decided to continue with plans to include the section of river but with a directive to keep all clients to river right, in a wider channel past the rock.

Mr Calder told Judge Callaghan he would have either started below that rapid or brought everyone to a calm eddy on the left hand bank and individually escorted them past the rock.

He said clients in a line often swung wider at the "tail" of the group as their reactions were based on those of the person in front of them and a delay down the chain "compounds the error through the group", Mr Calder said.

He believed that was how Mr Armour and Anne Nichols, of the United States, drifted too far left and had to be helped past the rock.

Also too far left, Ms Jordan was swept on to the rock, where she was trapped under water.

Mr Calder disagreed with Mr Kendrick's evidence that a jet ski, at 350kg, would pose too much of a threat to people in the water and was not manoeuvrable enough in rescue situations.

Mr Calder said he had witnessed jet skis at the section of river and they had "good manoeuvrability and can be placed where needed".

"I consider having a jet ski available throughout the trip . . . is one practicable step Mad Dog should have taken."

He stated in his evidence that he considered Mad Dog "was irresponsible by not carrying the rope" - an item "most professionals would say is one of the few basic pieces of equipment . . . for all water activities".

However, defence counsel Michael Parker questioned Mr Calder's claim a 15m rope would have been long enough to rig a pulley system around rocks in the area.

Mr Calder said it would not have reached a second rock, but was long enough to have doubled a person's pulling power on the day.

When asked by Mr Parker if he accepted the rescue was not "straightforward", Mr Calder said had there been a rope, "it should have been a very straightforward rescue".

There had been moves to better regulate the river boarding, sledging or surfing industry before Ms Jordan's death - Mr Calder had kayaked on the Kawarau River shadowing both Mad Dog and Serious Fun River Surfing in January 2008 before Ms Jordan drowned.

Having observed both companies, one of the issues he later discussed with Maritime New Zealand was that the life jackets used were "not fit" for white water."

UPDATE 22 August

Looks like a deal is about to be struck before the defence even presents its case: River-boarding parties hoping for 'outcome'

"Yesterday, on the fifth day of the proceedings, the presentation of the prosecution's evidence was halted as a series of meetings were held between Maritime New Zealand representatives, the prosecution and defence lawyers and McLeod.

About midday, Maritime New Zealand prosecuting counsel Brent Stanaway told Judge Brian Callaghan both parties had agreed to apply for an adjournment until noon on Monday.

Mr Stanaway said the matter was "likely to be resolved" at that point, with "an outcome" at the hearing.

Judge Callaghan agreed to the adjournment. "

See also:

Rafting company operated in a regulatory vacuum

Mad Dog Riverboarding company in court

Emily Jordan not briefed about how to escape

Boyfriend critical about the safety briefing

Rescue approach "ill educated"

Stuart Martin Assault, Man Jailed.

The UK Sun newspaper is reporting that a 17 year old youth, Joshua McConville, has been jailed for three years and nine months at Napier District Court yesterday for the assault on British tourist and pilot Stuart Martin.

Mr Martin was viciously beaten in Taradale (between Napier and Hastings) in February, so badly that the imprint of a shoe was left on his face and he was placed into a coma. See Battered Scottish man flies home.

The Sun is reporting that Mr Martin may not be able to get his flying licence back due to the lasting effects of the beating.

For more about the incident and reaction to the attack see: British tourist in coma after Napier attack and Battered Scottish man flies home

For today's posts see: latest posts

British Tourists Made To Pay $42 For Showers

Three British tourists who snuck into Punakaiki Beach Camp for a shower on Thursday morning and then left without paying were charged $42 by the owners to get back the few possessions they'd accidentally left behind.

In a TVNZ report the owners, Lynda and Ross Eddy described getting $42 out of the three women as "sweet revenge" Ross said " the outcome was one of the best he'd had in 32 years in the tourism industry."

Revenge is a shower best served cold.

Perhaps coin/token operated hot showers are a more satisfactory idea?

Read more here: Sweet Revenge

For today's posts see: latest posts

UPDATE: More on the Death of James Patrick Smith - The British Tourist Killed in Queenstown, Inquest Opens.

The Otago Daily Times has published some more on the mysterious death of British man James Patrick Smith in Queenstown, New Zealand who was found at the rear of the Base backpacker hotel in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The comments of the manager of Base (who originally "declined to comment") are rather interesting and seem to be at odds with initial police reports that Mr Smith fell from a height.

No access to the roof
"Base Discovery Lodge manager Matthew Hirst told the Otago Daily Times yesterday he was unsure if Mr Smith had fallen from the roof. He said there was no access to the roof of the four-storeyed building, even from the stairs at the back.

"You can't even get on to the roof from the ladder - mind you, he could have climbed up."

Mr Hirst confirmed the dead man was not a guest at the backpackers.It is understood Mr Smith had been staying at a youth hostel on Lake Esplanade with a friend from the United Kingdom, with whom he was travelling.

Det Miller said while the 25-year-old had no occupation listed, he was understood to be a ski instructor and had arrived in Queenstown at the start of the week looking for work.He had been at a youth hostel until about 9pm or 10pm on Thursday and then gone into town, possibly with other people from the hostel."

Read the full article, see the alleyway here: Police believe dead man fell from roof

Meanwhile, relatives and friends should wait for the results of a coroner's report to know for certain how Mr Smith died.

UPDATE 21 August:

Inquests opens and is adjourned. Report in the ODT here: Dead tourist had high alcohol

Similar death in 2008

View Larger Map

Allegations surrounding the incident bear remarkable similarities to the death of Shaun Bernard Hogan, 24 from Invercargill. He fell to his death from the three storey roof of Queenstown's The Glebe apartment building on 8 March last year whilst highly intoxicated.

During the inquest coroner David Crerar said that his death should be an indictment on the evils of alcohol and not the individual. Report link: alcohol to blame

Queenstown most violent place in New Zealand

Queenstown was recently named as 'the most violent place in the country' according to police statistics published last year by the Southland Times, with alcohol being a significant factor.

"You are almost twice as likely to be violently assaulted in Queenstown than anywhere else in New Zealand, according to new police statistics.The assault will almost certainly take place in the central business district and there is a 17 percent chance it will be on licensed premises.

The statistics suggest it will very likely happen between 1am and 2am and probably at New Year, Easter or during the peak winter period.

There's a 64 percent chance the attacker will be a New Zealander, an 87 percent chance he will be male and an almost 50 percent chance he will work in the construction industry or as a chef.

These figures are included in a report compiled by Queenstown police intelligence analyst Constable Sean Drader in response to the growing number of violent crimes in the resort.....

Mr Drader said the problem was particularly serious for Queenstown given its reliance on the tourism industry and the attendant publicity of serious attacks of even a homicide.

"That kind of publicity carries a risk of a downturn in the town's major industry. It's a serious problem and a very real problem to the community." It was up to the community in general and bar owners in particular to take ownership of the problem and begin taking steps, alongside police and the Queenstown Lakes District Council to resolve it, he said."Read more of the article here: Queenstown most violent place in country

See also: "Streets of fear - Cops are hunting two offenders after late-night violence flared near Queenstown night clubs."

Tourists Injured in Bus Crash

A coach full of tourists has been involved in a serious road accident on the Haast Pass Highway (SH 6) 6 km north of Makarora.

The coach, which was passing through forested area at the time, collided with a Mercedes that overtook it on a straight section of road. Black ice was thought to have been a contributing factor in the crash which sent both the car and the bus spinning out of control into nearby trees.

The ODT reported that 4 people were seriously injured and were taken to hospital, the Southland times said that the bus was operated by Kiwi Experience and that 44 tourists were on board.

The coach party comprised mostly of backpackers who were said to be severely shaken by the accident and taken to the Makarora Wilderness Resort cafe to recover and wait for replacement transport.

No details have been released of the nationalities of the people involved. More on the story here Tourist bus, car crash into forest

2007 a bus, also carrying 44 mainly British tourists plunnged down SH6 near Franz Josef Glacier in Westland. That bus was operated by Kiwi Experience.

A NewstalkZB report at the time stated: "A local near the scene says the passengers have been told by the tour company, Kiwi Experience, not to speak to the media. The local says most of them appear to be in good spirits."

2008 another British tourist was killed when a coach operated by Stray Travel (who market themselves under the slogan "Get further off the beaten track with unique stops and activities" ) tumbled 10 metres down a bank 30 km south of Westport on the west coast. At the time The Press reported:

"One woman, a 62-year-old British national who lived in Spain, was thrown from the bus and killed instantly, police said.
The crash is the latest in a series of accidents involving tour buses and has generated negative publicity for New Zealand's tourism industry in some of its core markets, including in Britain.
National Party transport spokes man Maurice Williamson said he would be asking questions in Parliament about the safety of tourist bus operations.
A Dutch passenger, who declined to be named, said the bus `just drove off the road' ''
See also Times Newspaper report: Briton dies in NZ bus crash, for more details, including other tourism bus accidents in NZ's west coast region.

It will be interesting to see if this latest tourist bus crash will again raise in parliament the issue of tour bus safety and whether or not the injured people will be able to claim for compensation under the "New Zealand Life Back Promise".

British Tourist Dies in Queenstown

See also: Other Backpacker related incidents in NZ

From The Times Online


View Larger Map

"A British man has fallen to his death outside a bar in the New Zealand ski resort city of Queenstown.

James Patrick Smith, 25, from Kent, fell about 10m from a roof into an alleyway, police in the South Island city said today.

His body was found outside a backpackers' hostel and bar by a bouncer at around 1.40am NZT.

The death did not appear to be suspicious and initial investigations indicated it was an accident, Senior Sergeant John Fookes of Queenstown police said.

The Times understands Mr Smith had been escorted from the Altitude bar earlier and may have climbed the building’s fire escape in a bid to get back in.

Rear view of the building

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The general manager of Base Queenstown backpackers' hostel and Altitude bar, Matt Hirst declined to comment and referred inquiries back to police. He said Mr Smith had not been staying at Base.

Senior Sergeant Fookes said Mr Smith had been on holiday in New Zealand with a friend and had been looking for work in Queenstown."

Different reports say that Mr Smith fell from a stairwell or a fire escape in an alleyway at the rear of the building. Judgement about whether or not his death was an accident should be reserved until a full and proper investigation has been carried out.

Battered Scottish Man Flies Home

It's heartening to see that Stuart Martin was well enough to fly home to Berwick-upon-Tweed, Scotland earlier this month.

The Scottish pilot was placed in a coma after a savage beating on the streets of Taradale in February. Mr Martin was visiting New Zealand as a tourist, enjoying a night out on a stag party, when he became separated from his friends and set upon by a gang of 17 year old thugs.

He was kicked so hard that a shoe print was left on his face, a witness saw the youths stamping on Stuart's head but was unable to intervene.

Mr Martin has yet to make a full recovery, his father saying that his career as a pilot was 'in the lap of the gods'

Three youths: Darrin Peter Wright, Hamish Glenn Bowman, and Joshua McConville, were charged with assault and bailed to appear in court on 29 April.

For more see: Stuart Martin

British Newspaper Publishes "Suicide Hill" Story

According to the UK's Telegraph newspaper part of the Omapere sand dunes is known locally as "suicide hill"

Source: Telegraph, UK

By John Bingham and Paul Chapman

"(Thomas Donaldson) died in hospital in Auckland on Wednesday after the "sand duning" accident in the north of the country 10 days ago.

Mr Donaldson, from the village of Duffield near Belper, Derbyshire, was riding down the slope on a boogie board - a form of surf board - with three friends at Omapere, 160 miles north west of Auckland, last Monday when he ran into difficulties.

He was airlifted to hospital in nearby Whangerei with head injuries before being transferred to Auckland where he was placed on a life support machine.

His father Michael, 58, a GP in Belper, and mother Jacqueline, 51, are believed to have been at his bedside when the machine was switched off on Wednesday.

A relative at the family home said that they had flown to New Zealand following news of the accident last week.

Staff at Ecclesbourne School near Derby, where Mr Donaldson was head boy, described him as a "wonderful and popular young man of huge promise".

"His life was a positive influence on many others and the impact of this news has been profound," said a spokesman for the school.

"Tom's family are in our thoughts and prayers."

Sand duning is a cross between snow boarding and surfing in which enthusiasts ride down a steep embankment on a board either standing up or on their stomachs.

Known for its dramatic dunes Omapere has become popular with enthusiasts and has specially marked safe slopes.

But one local witness claimed that the four men had been riding outside a safe area on a near-300ft high embankment with a 90 degree drop at the bottom.

Visitors are frequently warned against boarding on the slope nicknamed "Suicide Hill".

His companions, who have not been named, reached the bottom but Mr Donaldson landed badly, local reports said.

It is thought the board may have dug into the sand sending him tumbling on.

The others, who also had medical training, gave first aid at the scene before he was airlifted by a rescue helicopter.

The home of bungee jumping, New Zealand has become a Mecca for fans of extreme sports in recent years.

But it carries risks. Recently two Australian brothers died when they were hit by falling ice after crossing viewing barriers at a glacier.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that the family were receiving consular assistance in New Zealand."

British Tourist in Napier Attack is Named

Source: Telegraph, UK
By Paul Chapman in Wellington

"A British tourist left fighting for his life in a New Zealand hospital after being assaulted so viciously that police say his attackers' boot marks were left imprinted on his head and face has been named.

Stuart Martin, a 31-year-old from Scotland, is in a coma in Hawke's Bay Hospital with a severe head injury.

His condition is described as critical.

Mr Martin, who has been living in Australia, had flown to the North Island seaside resort of Napier to attend the wedding on Saturday of a friend, Rory McBrearty.

He had been at a stag party when he became separated from the others, and police say he was set upon while walking past shops in the suburb of Taradale about 1am on Friday.

Mr McBrearty, also 31, has been keeping vigil at his comatose friend's hospital bedside.

He said: "I'm pretty upset about it all. It's overwhelming.

"I'm on the verge of a breakdown to tell the truth," he told Wellington's Dominion-Post newspaper.

He said that hospital staff were "not saying much about his condition, but it's pretty serious".

The two have been good friends for more than six years.

He described Mr Martin as "a small, friendly guy who makes friends with everyone".

A badly shaken Mr McBrearty told the newspaper that he and about 20 friends had spent much of Thursday being driven on a pub crawl.

"It was just your normal stag do. It was good. We finished up at a friend's place in Taradale."

No one in the stag party had noticed that Mr Martin was missing until they saw a police cordon around the scene while walking home through the suburb's town centre.

Detectives say they are "appalled" by the extent of his injuries.

They said a witness saw the victim being stomped on the face and head after he was knocked to the ground. The attack left him unconscious in the street.

Detective Sergeant Brian Schaab said: "The witness was unable to intervene but called police as the attack was in progress."

Three 17-year-old local youths have appeared in Napier District Court on Friday and were remanded in custody to reappear on March 4.

The three, named as Darrin Peter Wright, Hamish Glenn Bowman, and Joshua McConville, have all been charged with assault.

Police say further, possibly more serious, charges may follow"

Another Tourist Dies in New Zealand

Source NZ Herald

UK trainee Doctor Dies from Sand Surfing Injuries

"An English trainee doctor has died from his injuries after a "sand boarding" accident last week in the Far North.

Thomas Michael Donaldson died in Auckland City Hospital from the serious head injuries he suffered last Tuesday when he tumbled from his boogie board while surfing down sand dunes opposite Omapere, on the Hokianga Harbour.

Locals told Radio New Zealand the dunes were so steep that if a boogie board dug in, the rider was flung head-over-heels down the slope, with no way to stop the fall.

They said visitors were routinely warned not to go there, after serious accidents in the past."

Comment:

If the locals are saying that there have been serious accidents there in the past and visitors were warned not to go there why is boarding on the sand dune promoted to tourists?

According to the NewZealand.com page about Omapere/Opononi:

"Dune surfing on boogie boards is a thrill that leaves you sandy but extremely satisfied."

No mention of the word "dangerous"

And the Omapere.co.nz website lists dune surfing along with golf as one of the activities that can be enjoyed on land.

If the risks are so well known about where are the safety signs clearly warning visitors that the dunes are dangerous ? much the same as signs on a beach would warn of dangerous tides or rip currents.

Where are the words of caution on the tourism sites?

According to the website NewZeelandworldpress.com Thomas Donaldson was the second British Doctor and fifth British national to be killed in New Zealand in the last 60 days.

Karen Aim's Murderer Pleads Guilty.

Link: Karen Aim

Scottish woman Karen Aim was brutally murdered as she walked home alone one night in January last year.

The murder, which happened in Taupo in NZ's North Island, shocked not just the residents of the small town but people all over the world.

The incident received international press coverage and brought into sharp focus the problem of violent crime in the country. People questioned New Zealand's reputation as a safe place in which to live and visit.

Today Karen's 15 year old killer Jahche Te Manawa Kaha Brougton pleaded guilty and spared her family the ordeal of sitting through what was likely to be a long court case.

He also pleaded guilty to one count wounding with intent to cause causing grievous bodily harm to another woman, aged 17, in Taupo on January 5 last year.

Sentencing will be carried out on 6th March.

News Story: Sky News UK

British Migrants Robbed

Source:NZ Herald, Monday August 25, 2008

"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.

But last Wednesday, while they were out house-hunting, their room at the Takanini Motor Lodge was plundered of virtually everything they had brought with them.

"We were feeling really good because we'd found a house and we came back and felt the air rushing through the room ... The children were the first to realise what had happened," Mrs Tutin said.

The thieves took passports, visas, two laptops and photos as well as clothing.

Even cuddly toys made by friends and gifts for another daughter back in England were taken.

Mrs Tutin valued the loss at more than $25,000.

"It was heartbreaking. We'd just secured a home and then that happened."

The thieves are thought to have got into the motel room through a door that opens onto a busy road.

Some of the Tutins' belongings were found strewn outside, partly in a bedcover that was used to carry items away.

"We were just thinking, 'Why us ... why that particular place?'" Mrs Tutin said.

"Nothing from the motel was stolen, just our stuff - they were intent on stealing everything."

Mrs Tutin suspects their arrival back at the motel disturbed the burglars, and said that was just as disturbing as the theft itself.

They didn't spend another night in the room. Instead, they went to an inner-city hotel where they asked to be in a room off ground level.

"We just felt so vulnerable. The children wouldn't stay [in the motel] another night."

After the theft, the family had to go shopping for replacements - a mission none of them enjoyed.

"You can't go to one place to get everything you've lost," Mrs Tutin said.

They are appealing for anyone who knows anything about the theft to contact police so they can get some of their belongings back.

"We don't care about the clothes and stuff, it's just the sentimental stuff we really want back."

But the theft hasn't put them off living in New Zealand.

"People have been absolutely lovely," said Mrs Tutin. "It was just our bad luck."

"Luck" really didn't come into it, the family were staying in South Auckland, one of Auckland's warmest crime hot spots. Here's hoping that the remainder of their time in the country is more successful

Englishman Paul Speakman's Attackers Got 10 Years

from NZ Herald

"Four men who went on a violent rampage across the central North Island terrorising tourists have been jailed for 10 years each.

Rotorua District Court was told yesterday one of the men went on the violent spree so he could pay drug debts.

Another was high on P -- pure methamphetamine -- at the time of the robberies and had been using the drug since he was 16.

The men used crowbars to smash windows of the tourists' vehicles.

They threatened and attacked their victims, stole their property and slashed their tyres to prevent them from going for help.

The vehicles were left "blood-spattered and ransacked", the court was told.

The four, who all pleaded guilty to three charges of aggravated robbery, are:

* Shaun David Austin, 24, a boner, of Te Aroha,
* Hayden Lee Growden, 28, a hydroblaster, of Te Aroha,
* Ben Joseph Atkinson, 21, a sickness beneficiary, of Paeroa, and
* Cameron Lee Ashby, 26, a labourer, of Paeroa.

In one of the attacks, early on October 12, British tourist Paul Speakman and his 12-year-old son Christian were asleep in their campervan in the Athenree Gorge, near Katikati, when the men set upon them.

The men threatened to drown Mr Speakman and his son if they did not co-operate.

Even when the pair did co-operate, the men continued their attack.

Mr Speakman suffered a cut to his face, which required stitches, and a swollen eye.

It was the Speakman's first night in New Zealand and they were contemplating settling here....."

Read the full article here: 10 Year Sentences for attackes on Tourists