Police warning after women's drinks spiked

Motueka police are warning women to take extra care after attacks on two teenagers within three days.

Detective John Nicholls of Motueka police said a 19-year-old woman was found in a distressed and disoriented state and with her shirt buttons ripped off in Motueka Quay about 3.30am on Saturday.

She had been drinking at the Post Office Hotel earlier in the night, but could not recall what happened.

Mr Nicholls said she was not highly intoxicated and may have had her drinks spiked, as she had accepted drinks from people she did not know.

"The message is don't accept a drink from anyone you don't know. It's a concern that people will still accept drinks from unknown people with all the publicity about drink spiking."

A blood sample from the woman would be sent to ESR to be tested for drugs.

Mr Nicholls said she could not recall what had happened and only had a vague recollection of possibly being in a station wagon with a male. It did not appear she had been raped and she had no injuries.

Police searched Motueka Quay on Saturday but found nothing.

Mr Nicholls said police had no further information and it was still not known where the woman was taken between leaving the hotel and being found at Motueka Quay.

He said it was a reminder to people to look after themselves especially at this time of year when a lot of people were out celebrating.

"If you're going to go out and get drunk, make sure you have someone who is not drinking to look after you. It's the time of year when we have a lot of people around and these things happen."

The incident followed the attack on a 16-year-old Nelson girl at Tata Beach in Golden Bay early on Thursday.

A 30-year-old Takaka man was arrested and charged on Friday night with burglary and attempted murder after viciously throttling the girl.

- NZPA