Reserve attacks don't deter Tauranga visitors

RELAXED: Blaise Pascal high school teachers Matt Dunias, 37, Edith Apparou, 40 and Oliver Berger, 29, with their students at McLaren Falls Park yesterday.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

Tourists visiting McLaren Falls yesterday were not put off by reports of attacks on two visitors this week.

Two tourists were attacked while camping at the popular Bay reserve on Tuesday morning in separate incidents after sleeping in their vehicles overnight. The incidents were believed to be the first of their kind at the park. Read more about the attack here.

A group of students from Blaise Pascal in New Caledonia were not put off by the incidents.

Blaise Pascal high school teacher Oliver Berger said the group of 13 students and three teachers had been in the country for almost a week, on a school exchange with Mount Maunganui College, but did not think they would be targeted at any point of their trip.

"Of the three teachers, we are not worried about safety here in New Zealand. I have often come here on holiday myself and I feel safe here. But because I am here and think it's safe doesn't mean stuff isn't happening."

Mr Berger said the events at the falls two days ago were a surprise but, at the same time, "we know this sort of stuff can happen anywhere".

Mr Berger said the group's afternoons were spent at Bay of Plenty hot spots and everybody had enjoyed the hospitality of New Zealanders so far.

English backpackers Will van der Maat and Tom Adams were not aware of the events that had taken place.

"But it's not exactly the type of place we would stop in at overnight to be honest," Mr Van der Maat said.

RELAXED: Blaise Pascal high school teachers Matt Dunias, 37, Edith Apparou, 40 and Oliver Berger, 29, with their students at McLaren Falls Park yesterday.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

"The stuff we seemed to get warned about the most was little places like this. Don't leave any valuables out and keep everything locked up, they tend to say places like this is where you are more likely to targeted."

The men said they were more worried about the natural hazards New Zealand had to offer.

"The biggest worry for us would be going in the sea with the tides. In the UK the beaches are a lot more policed and looked after. There is a lot more lifeguards on show, here there aren't many people manning it [the beaches] yet and the beaches are so much bigger here too," Mr Van der Maat said.