Arrest after jaw broken

A man has been arrested after breaking the jaw of a tourist in Paihia.

A 31-year-old Moerewa man has been arrested following an attack in Paihia in which an Auckland visitor had his jaw broken in two places.

The latest incident, which comes after an American tourist had his jaw broken in an apparently unprovoked bashing, has prompted a police warning that attacks on visitors will not be tolerated.

Detective Greg Johnson, of the Kerikeri CIB, said the incident occurred on Kings Rd in Paihia's backpacker area in the early hours of May 17.

A friend of the first victim, who required reconstructive surgery at Middlemore Hospital and now had his jaw wired shut, was also hit and knocked to the ground.

Police were able to identify the man they believed was the main offender thanks to CCTV footage and arrested him on Thursday afternoon.

He appeared in the Kaikohe District Court on Friday charged with assault with intent to injure and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was denied bail.

Police enquiries were continuing to locate his co-offenders, Mr Johnson said.

The attack was not motivated by robbery but was simply thuggery.

"Attacks like this on visitors to the Bay of Islands won't be tolerated. The public's had enough. We'll investigate and prosecute anyone who's involved," he said.

Mr Johnson urged anyone who had witnessed the attack, but had not yet spoken to police, to call the Kerikeri station on (09) 407 9211 and ask to speak to a member of the CIB.

In January this year American backpacker Jacob Ulgenes, 22, also had his jaw broken in an attack on Kings Rd. The person responsible has yet to be found. That assault was widely publicised in his home state of Montana.