Home invasion victim feared for life as attacker beat her

A 32-year-old woman who was attacked and sexually assaulted in an Auckland home invasion thought she would die as her assailant beat her.

Police said the woman, who was alone in her Onehunga flat, was bound and gagged for at least 15 minutes - and only escaped more serious injury when neighbours heard noises coming from her house about midnight on Thursday.

"She's absolutely courageous. She could have been raped, or even worse. She thought she was going to die," said Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Beard.

He said she may have scratched her attacker's face during the ordeal.

"The motives of the offender appear very sinister. Without the courage of the victim and the actions of the neighbours she could have suffered worse than she did."

The neighbours called out after hearing noises, and the man ran off.

The woman, whose facial injuries included two black eyes, was examined at hospital and released. Detectives interviewed her yesterday and were due to finish an examination of the Spring St house.

They spent most of Friday searching the area around the flat, including parts of St Joseph's School.

Detective Nick Poore said the man possibly knew the area quite well and could have approached the flat through the school grounds or fled that way.

Beard said police were working with criminal profilers to build up a picture of the attacker. The man may have been a burglar, or may have broken into the house with even more sinister motives.

Police yesterday released a detailed description: He is a Maori or Pacific Islander in his early 20s, slim build, short (about 1.65m tall). He was wearing a dark beanie and fleece top with a half zip.

Police urge people to walk in groups after dark in the grounds of Canterbury University grounds following the rape of a 21-year-old student on Friday night.

The student was returning to her car in Kirkwood Ave from the the university library around 10pm when she was attacked and raped behind Ilam Primary School.

Police described the attacker as a male Caucasian aged in his mid-20s with short dark hair. He is clean shaven and approximately 1.82m tall.

Anyone with information should contact police on (03) 344 1800.