A tourist was left unconcious with serious head injuries after the attack.
A tourist has a fractured skull and other head injuries after being attacked in Taupo on his way home from the central business area early yesterday morning.
Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said a local man was also attacked.
Both attacks were unprovoked and occurred on Tamamutu St in Taupo about 4am, he said.
A 32-year-old Canadian tourist was attacked outside Silver Fern Backpackers on his way home from the town centre.
The attacker knocked the tourist unconscious and stole his belongings.
Soon afterward a 20-year-old local man, also walking home from the central area, was assaulted.
During the assault the man's shoes were stolen.
A 17-year-old Auckland man today appeared in Taupo District Court charged with aggravated robbery and robbery.
Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the attacks.
- NZPA
It comes as Winston Peters has yet to back up claims he's made about Dr Ayesha Verrall.