A family were left shaking after a man who had allegedly been tied, robbed and beaten called out to them for help.
The Tauranga woman and her family called police after the 34-year-old man emerged from a neighbouring room at the Rayland Epsom Motel on Great South Rd in Auckland.
"We were outside on the balcony and this guy came out from the room near ours and he was bound and gagged and asked us to call the police," she told Fairfax.
"He had a cut above his eye and it looked like he had been beaten."
"We went into shock and started shaking. Not something we wanted to see on our holiday."
The woman called police who arrived with St John around 9.30am on Sunday.
Police said the man had various injuries as a result of the serious assault. The man's phone and car had also been taken.
The woman said they had not noticed anything suspicious before they saw the man.
"We heard some banging late at night and we didn't think anything was wrong when we saw two women get into the car.
"But he seemed really angry that his car had been stolen."
Police are appealing for any information which might help identify the alleged offenders - three women and a large Polynesian man. The group are alleged to have assaulted the man, taking his phone and leaving the motel in his car at around 8.30am this morning.
Police also appealed for sightings of the car - a grey Audi 3.0 Quattro Saloon, registration HZM895.
If you have information which may assist the police investigation into this incident, please call Auckland Crime Squad on 09 302 6557.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.