Set upon couple vow never to camp again

The couple's campervan was allegedly attacked by a machete-wielding man at Pakawau, between Collingwood and Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.

A couple whose campervan was allegedly attacked by a machete-wielding man in Golden Bay yesterday say they will never camp again.

The 46-year-old Hamilton man and his 24-year-old Chinese partner, who has New Zealand residency, had heard a man "ranting and raving" during Thursday night - their second at a reserve at Pakawau, between Collingwood and Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.

Then, at dawn, a man started smashing the windows of the homebuilt campervan and telling the couple to move.

"Within a couple of seconds it sounded like he had blown in our front window," the man told Fairfax.

The campervan had all its side windows, front and rear lights and indicators smashed and there was a large hole in the passenger door.

The offender had allegedly started a fire in the cab, soaking papers and documents with methylated spirits and turpentine, leaving scorch marks on the dash board.

The Hamilton man, who put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, said he and his partner were terrified and would never camp again.

Nelson Bays area commander Inspector Brian McGurk said the overnight could have been an "extreme, over-the-top reaction" to freedom camping.

The couple, who was "petrified" but not physically injured in the attack, had earlier been verbally abused about freedom camping in the area.

Pakawau Old School House cafe owner Robbie Duncan yesterday told NZPA he knew the alleged offender.

"He comes in here [the cafe] every now and again, [he] has a holiday home here," he said.

"I like him really well ... a very well natured person."

Mr Duncan said the man's holiday home was on the reserve where the attack happened.

A 59-year-old Christchurch man was charged with two counts of attempted murder at a special court hearing before Judge David McKegg at Nelson Police Station yesterday.

He was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody to reappear in Nelson District Court on January 21.

The hearing had been held at the police station because the man's volatile behaviour, Mr McGurk said.

- NZPA