Another robbery in Paihia

Police are investigating a second robbery of a tourist in the Paihia, this time involving a 23-year-old Canadian tourist who says he was assaulted and robbed after he befriended a group at a bar.

The victim has told police that he agreed to go in the offenders' white hatchback car towards Kawakawa, ostensibly to go to a party. However, the vehicle stopped a few kilometres out of Paihia and the victim was robbed of the cash in his wallet and left on the side of the road.

A police patrol picked him up a short time later.

The incident came just days after three English tourists were robbed of their car and possessions by five men, one of whom presented a knife.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said such offending would not be tolerated by the Bay of Islands community.

"The actions of these offenders are not only causing harm to the victims, but also to the residents and businesses in the area," he said.

The suspects were all described as male Maori, with the driver of the hatchback car large and overweight. Detective Senior Sergeant Johnston believed a number of local people would know who had committed both robberies.

"I urge them to get in touch with us and help us put a stop to this appalling behaviour,"

The Subaru stationwagon taken in the first incident was found on Thursday morning, burnt out, on Ruapekapeka Road, near Kawakawa.

As of late last week police were still looking into whether the two robberies were connected.

"Obviously there is a link to the Kawakawa area, but nothing that conclusively connects the two offences just yet. We are looking into a variety of evidence in both cases," Detective Senior Sergeant Johnston said.

Anyone with any information should call the Kerikeri police on (09) 407-4923 or, anonymously, Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111 (www.crimestopper-nz.org).