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An alleged sex attack on an English tourist by a barefoot man with an American accent may have been a hoax.
The 27-year-old tourist told police she had been sexually attacked by a man as she walked the track between the Waitangi Treaty House grounds and the Haruru Falls carpark on March 26.
But sources now say the attack may not have happened.
Yesterday, police refused to say whether the claim was a hoax.
"It is a bit of a tricky one," said Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston.
He was asked if there was something about the inquiry he could not reveal.
"I don't really want to make any comment at all at the moment, just let it die down."
Mr Johnston said at the time the complaint was taken as a serious and genuine complaint.
Asked if that had changed, he said: "I can't comment on that."
Mr Johnston said the inquiry had made no progress and he expected none in the next couple of days.
The tourist told police she was dragged into the bush and sexually abused by a barefoot man.
After speaking to the woman, police said the man was in his mid to late 30s with dark brown hair in a number four cut.
They said he wore a large ring on his right hand, blue jeans and a navy blue T-shirt with a white circular pattern. He carried a full backpack and was barefoot.
News of the alleged attack prompted locals to rally around the tourist.
Locals said they were sickened by the attack which they said brought memories flooding back of the vicious sex attack on Dutch honeymooners at the falls in 2006.
One local said the tourist was petrified, traumatised and shaken.
- NZPA
