Arrests after Dunedin racist attack

Police interviewed people at the scene on Filleul St yesterday after an earlier racist incident in George St. Photo / Otago Daily Times

An attack on an Asian family walking along a central Dunedin street yesterday has disappointed police, who say incidents with racial overtones are unusual in the city.

Senior Sergeant Craig Brown said the family of four, believed to be a couple from Auckland and their two teenage sons, were walking along George St just after 4pm, when they were allegedly verbally abused by a group of drunk people.

The father was then allegedly punched twice, once by an 18-year-old female in the group and once by an 18-year-old male.

A 22-year-old female is alleged to have thrown a quarter-full bottle of wine at the father.

The incident was reported to police, but the group had gone.

However, police several hours later attended a disorder incident in Filleul St involving the same group.

Three people were arrested and all charged in relation to the earlier incident.

The 22-year-old female was held in custody and will appear in the Dunedin District Court today on a charge of assault with a weaponThe 18-year-old female was charged with assault and the 18-year-old male with assault and assaulting police.

Both were expected to be granted police bail last night, Snr Sgt Brown said.

"It did have racial overtones, which is disappointing, because we don't see this sort of thing rear its ugly head here very often."