Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Horror knife attack: 'I thought I wasn't going to see my husband or kids again'

David Beck
By David Beck
Multimedia journalist·Bay of Plenty Times·
7 Aug, 2020 02:07 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

A Tauranga woman was held at knifepoint while driving to work on Wednesday. Photo / Getty Images

A Tauranga woman was held at knifepoint while driving to work on Wednesday. Photo / Getty Images

A Tauranga woman has been left struggling to sleep and afraid to get in her car after being held at knifepoint.

Gillian Rowse was driving to work about 7.30am on Wednesday when a man ran out in front of her on Courtney Rd, Gate Pa, forcing her to pull over to the side of the road.

"Next minute, my car door was opened," she said.

"All I could see was the knife straight away and I got very scared and started fighting. He said he would slit my throat if I didn't give him my car."

Rowse fought the man off as he tried to pull her from the car, sustaining minor cuts to her hand, face and neck, before the man gave up and fled on foot. She drove to work, not feeling safe to stay where she was.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I just kept putting my hand up to keep the knife away and he went as quick as he came. I just wanted to get to work and feel safe.

"I didn't think I was going to walk away from it. I thought that I wasn't going to see my husband or kids again. I was so determined not to be a victim but I'm scared to get in the car, I'm scared to drive by myself.

"My husband has bought a dashcam for me, I make sure my car doors are locked and before I get out of the car I look around to make sure nobody's there. I can't sleep at night.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"People need to avoid that road, it's shocking. I won't go home that way or come up that way again, I don't care how bad the traffic is, I'll go a different way."

She described the man as having a slim build and dark skin. He was wearing black pants, a black hoodie and a red-and-white scarf covering his face.

Discover more

Police attend multiple crashes in Western Bay of Plenty

03 Aug 09:47 PM

Quad bike hits house in Te Puke

04 Aug 04:06 PM

SH25a murder charge laid

06 Aug 01:49 AM

Police searching for Tauranga man

06 Aug 01:00 AM

The incident has been reported to police.

"The police have been excellent, they've been brilliant. I think for the resources they have, they've been brilliant with their communication and making sure I'm okay.

A police media spokeswoman confirmed police were investigating the incident.

Anyone who had been travelling from the Fraser Rd end of Courtney Rd to the Cameron Rd end at the time of the incident or has any information that can assist with the investigation is urged to call police on 105 quoting file number 200805/0191, she said.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

"While an incident like this is not common in our community we understand it can be very distressing and we want to reassure everyone we are determined to find the person responsible and hold them accountable'" the police spokeswoman said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Police continue to encourage people to take safety measures when you are inside your vehicle, including ensuring it is locked at all times."

If you see any suspicious activity call police on 111 immediately.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

09 Jul 06:00 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

09 Jul 01:32 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'I wasn't prepared to wait': Youngest Govt MP on seizing his big opportunity

09 Jul 12:26 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

09 Jul 06:00 AM

Whakarewarewa dominated Te Puna with a 57-10 win in Rotorua.

Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

09 Jul 01:32 AM
'I wasn't prepared to wait': Youngest Govt MP on seizing his big opportunity

'I wasn't prepared to wait': Youngest Govt MP on seizing his big opportunity

09 Jul 12:26 AM
'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance

'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance

09 Jul 12:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP