Murupara assault: Church pastor thought he ‘was going to be killed’ in early-morning attack

Police confirmed they received a report of an assault about 3.50am this morning on Pine Drive, Murupara. Photo / NZME

A pastor in a small Bay of Plenty town thought he was going to be killed during an attack at a local church building in the early hours of this morning.

Police confirmed they received a report of an assault at about 3.50am this morning on Pine Drive, Murupara, which they are making inquiries into.

The pastor, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald he was attacked at 3:30am at one of the church buildings.

“I thought I was going to be killed right there on the spot, but however I’ve left it all in the hand of the police to try and catch this person, and bring him to justice,” he told the Herald.

“I’m at home with my whanau which I am so grateful for,” he said.

Murupara is a small town in the Whakatāne District about 50 kilometres southeast of Rotorua with a population of only 2000 people.

However, there are seven churches in the town, two of them located on Pine Drive where the assault allegedly occurred.