Armed forces rape charge

A New Zealand Defence Force member has been charged with rape.

The man, granted interim name suppression, appeared in Invercargill District Court on Friday and was remanded on bail until April 28.

A second charge of unlawful sexual connection was laid after a complaint was made on Wednesday, the Southland Times reported.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force and support staff had been based at Borland Lodge, in Fiordland, for night-flying training missions across Southland to test night-vision equipment.

Detective Sergeant Brian Cowie said police were told of the rape complaint on Wednesday.