After days of buck-passing between three national police forces, New Zealand police said yesterday they would take ownership of the investigation into allegations of rape of an Auckland woman on the cruise ship Pacific Star.
"As the woman concerned is a New Zealander, we feel it has becomeour responsibility to work with our international partner agencies, namely New Caledonia and Australia, to sort this matter out," police national crime manager Detective Superintendent Win van der Velde said.
The 46-year-old woman, who says she was raped by an Australian passenger on a Pacific cruise on New Year's Eve, told the Herald she was frustrated no one was taking control of the investigation.
Mr van der Velde said the matter was brought to the attention of New Zealand police on January 3, when the victim arrived back in New Zealand after being flown home by the P & O Shipping Company.
On January 5, following the arrival of the cruise ship Pacific Star in Auckland, police worked with the shipping company and their personnel to complete a scene examination, and seize evidence to assist in the investigation.
Mr van der Velde said it was important to provide the complainant with some reassurance that something was being done.
