German tourists Nico Lustig and Janina Hinnear saw the bad side of New Zealand when they lost their possessions to a thief at Ahipara. Within 48 hours they were seeing the good side.
News that the stolen property included the ring with which Nico had planned to propose to Janina struck a particular chord, prompting a very generous response from Taupō woman Carrie Johnston.
She contacted the Northland Age to offer Nico an engagement ring and matching wedding band ("assuming she says yes, of course") that she had had sitting in a drawer for 18 years.
"I'm sure none of my boys would mind if I gifted the rings to Nico, if he'd like them," she said.