Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
A 20-year-old man has appeared in court today after a tourist was robbed and indecently assaulted in Whangārei.
Douglas Downard, 20, of Dargaville, appeared in the Whangārei District Court on Friday facing charges of injuring with intent to injure, indecent assault, robbery, and aggravated robbery using a knife.
He was remanded in custody and scheduled to reappear on 11 October by audio-visual link.
Police said quick action by a member of the public meant officers were able to respond swiftly and make an arrest after the attack in the suburb of Regent on Thursday afternoon.
Now police are appealing to the public for help to get the tourist's belongings back.
Items taken from the victim, and still missing, include a pair of white Air Max shoes, a Xiaomi-brand cell phone in a turquoise case, a German passport, and an ASUS laptop with a flower sticker on it.
Anyone who has seen those items or knows where they are was urged to call police on 105, quoting file number 230928/7265.
Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.