An English tourist has been dragged from a secluded track in New Zealand and raped.

The 27-year-old woman was attacked as she walked between the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the Haruru Falls car park in Northland, in the North Island.

The attack happened early on Tuesday evening.

New Zealand Police said the attacker was a barefoot man in his mid to late 30s, who was carrying a full backpack and spoke with an American accent.

So far no arrests have been made.

A spokesman said it was not known whether the woman had decided to return to the UK as a result of the attack, but she was currently still in Northland.

It is understood that she was in the country on a year-long working holiday.

The incident comes two months after the murder of British backpacker Karen Aim.

The 26-year-old, from Orkney, was killed as she made her way home from a night out in the North Island resort town of Taupo.

A youth has been arrested and charged with her murder.

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