Like Australia, New Zealand is viewed as seen as an extremely safe place to travel in, which is why the shooting death of a campervan tourist is sending shockwaves through the country.
A 33-year-old Australian who was touring the country with his Canadian girlfriend was killed at the Te Toto Gorge carpark in Raglan, on the west coast of the North Island, early this morning.
Police say the couple were sleeping in their campervan when a man arrived and demanded the vehicle’s keys before shooting the Australian. The victim’s partner, who is said to be ‘very shocked and distressed’, managed to escape the gunman and alerted the police.
The stolen campervan with the body inside was later found some 80 kilometres away. The suspect remains at large and armed officers have launched a manhunt across the Waikato district.
“Inquiries indicate that this was a random attack,” said Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley. “It is understandable and concerning to have an armed offender outstanding but I want to reassure the public we are working hard to identify and locate the offender … it is our absolute priority.”
Detective Inspector Pitkethley said “the terrain where the vehicle was stolen is quite rough with a lot of bush around”.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was “providing consular assistance” to the family of the deceased.
The ABC reports that Te Toto Gorge Raglan, situated about three hours south of Auckland on New Zealand’s west coast, is a popular coastal destination for walkers and hikers.
