The backpackers who had their cars broken into by thieves while they were swimming at Maraetotara Falls. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today
It's a pretty common news story in the summer months - and the key elements are generally the same: Young backpackers, a beautiful spot by the water, an unguarded vehicle and some local hoods.
Also familiar: the reaction of locals. Kiwis often dip into their pockets to help out burgled
travellers. Why is that?
Local communities don't rally around to produce a brown envelope every time a Kiwi gets robbed when passing through town. And Lorde knows Kiwis who get their backpacks lightened while touring in other parts of the world would be unlikely to find themselves appearing in the local media ("Leading your Johannesburg news bulletin: A New Zealander has had her camera and passport nicked...").
A group of seven travellers, from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Germany and France, got the 100% Robbed experience last week in Hawke's Bay. They had their van and car turned over while swimming at Maraetotara Falls, halfway between Havelock North and Waimarama.
They lost money, a few possessions and - probably most annoyingly - passports. (Petty crime is low enough, but stealing passports is particularly galling - unless you're a Mossad agent or a Walter White figure on the run, a passport is of pretty much zero value, but the relative inconvenience to the traveller is huge.)
