Mark Loper
The European family, who were touring New Zealand in a hired ute and caravan, were staying at Turangi's Club Habitat on Ohuanga Rd when the attack happened. A large area of Club Habitat, which backs on to State Highway 1 and is opposite the police station, has been cordoned off as police investigate.
The parents left their sleeping children in a caravan about 10.10pm on Wednesday while they went to use a computer in an amenity block just metres away. At a press conference at the Turangi police station yesterday, the distance away was described as being like having your children in one room of a house and you in the other.
When the mother returned half an hour later she found the caravan door locked and a saw a man inside standing over her daughter.
She ran screaming to get her husband and when they got back the door was open, the intruder was gone and their daughter was lying critically injured on a bed.
The girl's brother had slept through the whole attack.
During the press conference, Mr Loper said the family were tourists who had been travelling through the country and had been here for a while.
"This is a vicious attack, and the fact that it is on a 5-year-old tourist just days before Christmas makes it all the more appalling. It is vital that anyone who has the smallest piece of information that might help this investigation comes forward as soon as possible.
"They've come to New Zealand for a Christmas that probably was going to be their dream holiday, and it's turned out to be like this," Mr Loper said.
The news has angered Taupo district mayor Rick Cooper who said the attack was as bad as it got.
Mr Cooper said the person responsible "should not be able to pinch oxygen" from others.
"It's a 5-year-old girl we're talking about here."
Mr Cooper said incidents like this made him wonder why the death penalty had been abolished.
"They [the offender] do not deserve to live on this planet."
He said the attack would also impact negatively on tourism.
"It's despicable. It undoes all the hard work that everyone does to try and promote the district."
Mr Cooper said the district was just starting to get over the negative publicity after Scottish tourist Karen Aim was murdered in Taupo and he could only imagine the publicity once the news hit Europe.
When The Daily Post arrived at the campground a few campervans were still parked in the cordoned off area. There was also a heavy police presence at the scene.
Club Habitat manager Sylvia George told reporters she felt sick that the assault had happened at the camping ground, but people often walked through the property as it was a shortcut between State Highway 1 and the town. "I've been working here for quite a while and this is the first thing we've kind of had ... someone brutally attacked."
The family had booked to stay for one night and planned to walk the popular Tongariro Crossing in National Park.
Police did not release a description of the offender but asked anyone who may have seen anyone near the campground around the time of the attack to contact police. Neighbours who live across the road from the holiday park told the New Zealand Herald yesterday that the Mongrel Mob were out in "full force" on Wednesday night.
Gang members were partying at a home in nearby Raukura St and the residents saw a blue or grey van and black hatchback vehicle parked outside the reserve next to the camping ground between 9.30pm and 10pm. The neighbours did not recognise the occupants as members of the local Mongrel Mob chapter, but at least two wore patches and appeared to be having a meeting.
Another man joined the group after walking through the reserve.
There were eight groups staying at the campground and they were being interviewed by police.
Police said people in Turangi should take precautions.
Turangi locals were shocked when they found out about the attack. Some were aware when approached by The Daily Post while others didn't know anything.
One resident, who only wanted to be known as Chris, said she had lived in the township for 14 years and nothing like this had ever happened. The mother of young children said the attack had prompted her to talk with her kids about stranger danger. While she knew the attack would reflect badly on Turangi, it wasn't a bad place to live. "Its a real good community, I've never had to worry about my kids before."
CAN YOU HELP?
Call the Taupo police on (07) 378 6060 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555- 111.
