English tourist raped in NZ

Updated 22.23 Sun Mar 30 2008

Keywords: New Zealand, rape, tourist, British

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.

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

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.