A man has been arrested over a sexual assault on an 8-year-old girl at a South Island beach at the weekend.

Police are seeking witnesses to a sexual assault on an 8-year-old girl just 50m from the main entrance of a popular Southland beach.

An 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in the sand dunes of Oreti Beach in Southland near where a large number of people were present.

A man who was due to go on trial for sexual abuse was able to skip the country because a court staff member forgot to inform Internal Affairs of his bail conditions.

Child Youth and Family are supporting a teenager charged with a violent sex attack on a tourist visiting Waiheke Island.

A Kaitaia pastor has been sentenced to nine months' home detention for what one of his victims called a "disgusting habit" of taking photos up women's skirts.

Nelson police have been flooded with information from members of the public following a violent rape on New Year's Day.

Serious violent and sexual assaults have spiked over the Christmas period in Auckland's CBD - and police say alcohol is to blame.

A Tongan overstayer who raped a 17-year-old stranger in a Rotorua park has been jailed for more than eight years.

Two men kidnapped a drunk and vulnerable woman, drove her out to an isolated area near the dump and raped her, a Rotorua court has heard.

"You can call us any time," Maxine Brayshaw told a woman who rang Auckland's sexual abuse helpline at the weekend. Then she had to correct herself.

Probe into what teachers' group knew about paedophile and damning email.

A NZ woman who alleges she was sexually abused by a tennis champ 33 years ago says it's a "huge relief" he has been suspended from the Tennis Hall of Fame.

Police are having to shelve sexual assault complaints because witnesses are too drunk to remember the details.