Police investigate ‘shocking’ attack on visitors to Rotorua hot pools

By Liu Chen of RNZ

Warning: graphic image may annoy some people

A man on vacation in the hot pools of Rotorua was left with a broken bone and bruises on his face after an attack.

The Wellingtonian, who did not want his name used, was with his friends who had come from all over the country to bike in Rotorua for the weekend.

He said six of them decided to go to the thermal pools to relax after a long day of cycling on Saturday, but it was around 11pm and many of the businesses were closed so they went to Wai-o-Tapu. .

There was another group of seven or eight men and women nearby in the pool, according to the man.

“We thought they were a family, so we didn’t think there would be any problem … They were chatting and we were chatting,” he said.

He said that after about 20 minutes, when some people from the other group started to come out of the pools, three men approached him and his friends.

“They were carrying bottles of alcohol. They started insulting us … I can’t hear them clearly. They just said ‘talk to me’. I told them we could leave if they didn’t want us there, but they didn’t.” Don’t let us go, “he said.

He said that four of his friends fled to shore while being pursued by some of the men.

He and another man couldn’t get out of the pool.

“The [punches] it lasted 15 to 20 minutes, they knocked me out in the water, “he said.

Three of his friends ran to hide in the woods while another friend was pulled out of the truck as he was trying to drive away; He said he ran barefoot onto State Highway 5 and eventually a car stopped and helped him call the police.

“Five more cars have passed,” the man said.

The man said that even after he and his friend got out of the pool, when the attackers were leaving, a member got out of the car and hit them again.

The man said he suffered a minor facial fracture and would continue to receive treatment in Wellington.

He said the attackers also took all of his belongings in the car, including a mountain bike, surf gear and construction tools worth more than $ 7,000.

Having been in New Zealand for 18 years, the man said he had never experienced anything like the attack.

“It has never happened before. I have been mountain biking in Rotorua for more than 10 years, I have also been in this hot pool for more than 10 years. Nothing has happened like this … our Christmas holidays are ruined.”

Police said they were called to the parking lot of the Wai-o-Tapu thermal pools around 11:50 p.m. Saturday on reports that a group of men assaulted a group of visitors to the pools.

The incident was defined as assault and robbery, and references have been made to Victim Support, according to a police statement.

Detective Sgt. Anthony Colby said the incident investigation was continuing and officers were pursuing firm lines of investigation.

“This type of incident is fortunately rare, but very shocking, and we are working as hard as we can to support the victims and hold these criminals to account.”