KEY POINTS:
Two witnesses have come forward with fresh information about a man who was "going like a bat out of hell" on a gravel road towards Raglan, after a German tourist was raped at Te Toto Gorge scenic reserve.
Police are encouraged by the new information, which is expected
to complement an Identikit picture of the rapist being prepared by authorities in Germany.
The 43-year-old victim returned home the day after the rape and police there are now talking to her.
Although she spent much of Friday evening speaking to police and medical staff in Raglan, the investigating team is seeking more information.
The Identikit picture should be ready for Huntly police soon, said Detective Sergeant Michele Moore.
The knifepoint attack was carried out shortly before 5pm on Friday.
The offender was thought to be in his 40s and had olive skin, short blond or grey hair and an athletic build.
It took police several days to go public about the crime.
It is understood the investigating detective initially thought they had their suspect, but when that proved incorrect they drafted a press release appealing for help from the public.
The offender was driving a large, old-style sedan that was pale in colour, possibly painted light-blue, green, grey or white.
"Afterwards he's headed back towards Raglan," Ms Moore said.
New information had come through yesterday that he was going "like a bat out of hell" on the gravel road towards Whale Bay.
"His accent wasn't a foreign one; we believe he was a New Zealander.
"The fact he's held a knife to her indicates he wasn't an altogether nice sort of person.
"It happened right on the side of the track. There was a struggle. No clothes were ripped off but they were removed."
Before the rape, the man loitered in the carpark opposite the entrance to the track.
The German tourist had just taken a short walk in the opposite direction to take in a view out to sea.
She first noticed the man on her way back, and passed him as she crossed the road into the scenic reserve.
It was then that the man followed her, making it appear as though he too was doing the walk.
He passed her at least once, then she passed him. At one stage he hid in the bush, waiting.
The pair were only five minutes' walk from the road when he raped her.
Tourists on the track yesterday were astounded that a rape had taken place there.
"You don't think of that stuff happening here," said Florida man Todd Mitchell.
Fellow American travellers Erin Stafford and Sophia Lore said they were aware of the attack on Dutch tourists in Northland last month, but the latest one did not put them off New Zealand.
"It's surprising that it happens here," said Ms Stafford, "but I guess it's no different from what goes on in our country."
