NEWS: Police Seek New Year Assault Witnesses

Taupo police are investigating a serious assault on the Lake Front Taupo at about 3am, New Year’s Day, and believe there are people who were in the area that could have vital information.

A group of NYE revellers had stopped to speak to another group at a picnic bench next to a parking area known as the Pits.  In a seemingly unprovoked attack, a man by the picnic bench was punched and knocked unconscious.

The 20-year-old man from Wellington was hospitalised with a head injury and is now recovering at home. 

A number of people congregated around a parked white vehicle (image below) around the time of the assault, and police believe some will have witnessed the assault or will have information that might help identify the offender.

There would have been a large amount of blood at the scene that passersby would have noticed, and they may have unwittingly spoken to the offender as information suggests he returned to the scene after police and ambulance had left.

If you have any information that will assist this investigation, please contact Taupo Police on 07 378 6060.

Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.