Possible victims come forward

Kaitaia backpackers owner Michael Harris, right.

More than 30 tourists from Germany, England, Scotland, America and New Zealand have contacted Northland police following the arrest of a Kaitaia lodge owner. He is charged with sexual assault.

News has quickly spread around the world via the internet after the arrest of Michael Harris, 56, who faces 39 charges related to indecent assaults on 16 men who stayed at the Main Street Lodge in Kaitaia. Harris faces charges including aggravated wounding related to allegedly drugging his victims to facilitate indecent assault, making intimate visual recordings, possession of intimate visual recordings, and indecent assault. The victims were mainly overseas tourists aged between 18 and 25.

Anyone with information, or who believed they may have been indecently assaulted, is asked to contact 0800 762 701 or operationsnap@police.govt.nz.

Since a helpline number and email address was set up on Wednesday more than 30 potential victims have been in touch with the police team.

Head of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston expected there would be many more people who would come forward. "Some people involved will be on social media or know someone who might have been involved and as the word spreads I'm sure we will get more people contacting us," Mr Johnston said.

Victim Support had been asked to assist police in offering the victims the support they need.

"I want to reassure tourists and our local residents that we have a person in custody and are carrying out a thorough investigation.

"The community has trust and confidence in the local police and know complaints will be taken seriously and police will do something about it," Mr Johnston said.

"The local community welcomes and values the many tourists it gets in the Far North. These are very unusual allegations and we will not let them impact on the reputation of a region known for being a favourite destination for overseas visitors." Police particularly want to speak with anyone who stayed in the owner's residence of the Main Street Lodge during the past two-and-a-half years.

Northland tourism leader Jeroen Jongejans said it was disappointing the alleged offending had happened in Northland but expected it would not impact on the region's tourism industry for the coming summer season.

In March Tourism NZ figures showed tourists dropped $600 million into Northland in 2013 making it the second biggest earner for the region behind farming.

At the same time the region was named AA Traveller Monitor's top summer spot and Tourism NZ's fifth most popular popular holiday destination.

Mr Jongejans, a board member with the Tourism Industry Association NZ and co-owner of Dive Tutukaka, said those working in the region's tourism industry strived to provide safe experiences for visitors.

"Every now and then some people managed to slide under the radar and ruin the reputation for 99.9 per cent of excellent businesses.

"It's good that this man is being investigated, it's being dealt with by police now," Mr Jongejans said.

He praised the actions of the judge who declined name suppression during Wednesday's court hearing.

"It's good to have his name out there so there is no guessing as to who it is."

Websites in America, Australia, England and Europe have featured the story. Most of the victims are thought to have been from Germany. The first of the incidents allegedly happened in 2012, the last just this week.