An Australian magazine article encouraging hitchhiking in New Zealand has been withdrawn because of the Taranaki murder of German tourist Birgit Brauer.
The Taranaki Daily News reported today that the backpacking magazine, Tourist and Traveller (TNT), was forced to reprint this month's edition which led with a storyThumbs Up - A hitchhiker's Guide to NZ.
The story was removed because New Zealand tourism outlets felt it was inappropriate to promote hitchhiking so soon after Miss Brauer's murder.
Miss Braur was bashed and stabbed to death at Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, on September 20, 2005, after accepting a ride from Michael Wallace.
He is serving a life sentence, with a minimum no-parole period of 18 years, for murder.
YHA New Zealand marketing and sales manager Daniel Shields told the newspaper Miss Brauer's slaying had prompted the YHA to re-examine the information it provided to travellers on hitchhiking, he said.
"We all love New Zealand and think it's a great place. It is generally safe but at times that lulls travellers into a false sense of security."
