Man Charged For Ramming And Shooting At Elderly Couple

After another shocking assault on elderly people a man has been charged following the ramming of an couple on state highway 33 on the way to Rotorua on Saturday at 4.30am. Press reports say that after trying to run the couple off the road the man fired at them with a shotgun at close range.

Later the same morning a female driver was tail-gated by a driver 15km north of Rotorua. When forced to stop she was confronted with an axe.

Police made one arrest - a man will appear in court today on "firearms, driving, cannabis and explosives charges." Full story here: Road assaults in Rotorua

Another related news report gives slightly more information. "Rotorua man arrested after a string of violent incidents". It gives details of an armed offenders call-out to conduct a search of a private home.

The police were wise to act with extreme caution. In May a police officer was shot dead when a a routine cannabis bust went horribly wrong in Napier. Jan Molenaar holed himself up for days in an armed siege which ended with his death and left 3 people critically injured. See: Napier siege

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400 Hundred Burglaries In 8 Weeks In Hawkes Bay

There have been 400 hundred burglaries reported in an 8 week period in Hawkes Bay according to an article in hawkesbay.co.nz, many of them were from homes left insecure or unlocked.

Other towns have also experienced similar crime waves, such as the small town of Martinborough which suffered 45 burglaries over an 11 days and led to the setting up of a vigilante group to protect local residents. See more: Small town NZ life - a town under siege.

John Key burgled by 'P' addict
Property crime strikes at every level of society within New Zealand, much of it is related to drug abuse. John Key's Remuera home was burgled by in 2007 by a 'P' user with 140 prior convictions who was recently sentenced to 5 years prison on 27 charges. It came as no surprise to hear that the man was out on bail or under supervision at the time of the offences.

Crime and drugs in New Zealand
According to data published by Nationmaster NZ holds the dubious reputation for having the world's highest reported figures for victims of crimes against property, 14.8% of the total population have been victimised by property crime.

It also has the world's highest percentage of cannabis users and the third highest percentage of amphetamine users over the age of 15.

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Tourism NZ Chief Exec 'Steps Down'

It was a quiet, low key resignation that merited a few lines in today's Herald which simply stated

"Tourism New Zealand said chief executive George Hickton is stepping down after 10 years in the role.

Hickton is resigning to allow a replacement to settle in before the 2011 Rugby World Cup is hosted in New Zealand, the agency said."

A few words but they speak volumes - his resignation and the Rugby World Cup are the only things mentioned in the statement. No thanks at all for a guy who'd spent 10 years in a role that oversaw the tourism business expand exponentially in NZ and the most successful tourism campaign of all time - Saachi's '100% Pure NZ'.

In a recent video on YouTube he gave no indication at all that he had any intention of leaving Tourism NZ, or that he wouldn't be around to see it through to next year.

Remember the furore that Mathieu Bastareaud caused when he made the allegation of a street attack in Wellington? (he refused to make an official complaint to the police, who investigated it anyway) At the time Mr Hickton said the incident was a 'wake-up call for the country.'

Mr Hickton seemed to have taken M. Bastareaud's complaint in good faith, after all attacks on tourists in New Zealand are hardly unusual. His statement simply echoed those made in the past which followed attacks on tourists, such as those issued by a Tourism NZ 'spokeswoman', Tourism West Coast general manager Sonya Matthews and Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism marketing general manager Dean Gorddard in this press article: Another Tourist Attack In New Zealand - Attack sparks tourist warning

Apr 23, 2008

"With another tourist recovering from an seemingly unprovoked attack, tourism leaders are urging operators not to be afraid of warning people of the risks of travelling in New Zealand".

And of course there are the safety warnings that were issued to Asian and Dutch tourists.

Now that Mr Hickton has 'fallen on his sword' who within New Zealand will have the courage to voice their concerns next time a tourist is killed or injured and call for better information to be given to visitors?

See Also
"Lessons from the no-so-friendly isles"
"In general, it is not a bad place to live or visit and has many pluses - but it ain't the happy-friendly cove of wonderfulness that the PR mob would have you believe either. There are wrong times and places in this country and it can be downright dangerous. A wrong look here, a dodgy remark here, and you might be up the proverbial without a paddle........."

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