The pair of travellers were later “accosted” by five inebriated men who emerged from a four door utility.
They were told that they had to pay a toll for camping on private land. The mob then tried to pull the man out of his camper van and punched and kicked him.
After stealing some of the couple’s possession the mob left. Sergeant Mata John, a Ngaruawahia CIB Detective, said that the couple would have been very shaken up: ‘‘given the time it happened and the sense of isolation the victims would have felt”.
‘‘The Waikato, and in fact the rest of the country, prides itself on being a safe, family friendly place to visit and the police want to ensure we do our part to maintain that hard earned reputation.‘‘
Despite the remote location of the attack, the police are calling out for witnesses or people who may know any information on this crime.
It’s believed that one of the main offender was a fat Maori man with black hair, a goatee and in a black and white T-shirt. Descriptions of other males include a Caucasian male with short, chubby man with blond hair wearing a green hoodie and green cap.
Those with information should contact the Ngaruawahia Police Station on +64 (0)7 824 8199.
picture: Getty
