Racist road rage during west beach trip
An Auckland couple who had their car vandalised after suffering racist abuse on the road are seeking witnesses.
Mt Eden lawyer Jason Yang and partner Minji Seo were harassed by the driver of a white ute on their way to Karekare, before having a corrosive substance poured all over their Lexus.
Yang said the man yelled racial abuse while tailgating them on the winding beach road on July 16.
‘‘He yelled out ‘Asian’ in a very high-pitch voice,’’ he said.
‘‘He said a few other things, but it wasn’t clear what he was saying.’’
It was Yang’s first visit to the rugged beach on Auckland’s west coast.
He said the offending driver came north from Scenic Drive and drove ‘‘erratically’’ behind them on Piha Rd.
He then tailgated, attempted to overtake, and at one point was adjacent to his car on the wrong side of the road.
‘‘We were driving within the speed limit. But I guess he just wanted to go faster.’’
The driver also tried to swerve to the left of Yang’s vehicle.
Yang said he and Seo were frightened.
Both vehicles arrived at Karekare about 3.30pm; he parked but didn’t see where the white ute travelled. The couple left their car for about half an hour, before returning to find what Yang first thought was urine or brake fluid poured all over it.
Later he realised it was probably ‘‘paint stripper or remover’’.
‘‘It was on the bonnet, roof, back bumper, rear lights, windows, windscreen – it was everywhere.’’
It ate through the paint exposing metal on the trunk. It had also started to cause some paint to flake.
Police spokeswoman Shelley Nahr said police had received Yang’s complaint.
Yang said the incident had made him unsure over whether he’d return to Karekare Beach in the future.
Anybody with information on the incident can contact the Waitakere police station on 09 839 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.