Tourist kidnapped and robbed for $40

An English tourist was kidnapped and robbed by two men after a night out in Wellington.

The man -- in his early 20s -- was walking along Taranaki Street toward his accommodation about 2.30am yesterday when a passing vehicle stopped and the occupants got out, Detective Sergeant Tim Leitch said.

When the victim refused the offer of a ride, he was attacked and pushed into the rear of the offenders' vehicle. He was then driven to suburban Brooklyn where he was ordered from the vehicle, punched, and robbed.

Mr Leitch said before the attack the men spoke to the victim and had a cigarette with him.

"Then they bundled him into the car and drove him up to Brooklyn."

After being robbed of $40 and his credit card the victim ran away and phoned police to report what had happened.

"The (financial) result for the offenders was pretty minimal for the risk so it's a little unusual in that respect," Mr Leitch said.

"He was just trying to get back to his backpacking hotel and these guys really ruined his night."

Police had finished interviewing the victim and were now appealing to the public for assistance.

"He had been out drinking, enjoying the night with some other tourists and he was heading home to his accommodation so his memory is a little bit jaded," Mr Leitch said.

" o really we're seeking help from the public who may have seen this vehicle driving round the city either before or after (the attack)," he said.

The men were in a red, medium to large, four-door sedan in reasonable condition.

At that time of the morning there would not have been a great deal of activity, so Mr Leitch hoped someone had seen either the car or the three men talking on Taranaki St before the attack.

- NZPA