Poor reward for teenage tourists
Two German teenagers who travelled halfway around the world to New Zealand to do unpaid conservation work were rewarded last week by having their van broken into in Kerikeri.
Katrin Arzdorf ( 19) and Lena Brueckner ( 18) left their van in the carpark across the river from the Stone Store while they explored the area on Thursday morning. They returned 20 minutes later to find that their backpacks had been taken.
A Bay of Islands College van parked nearby was also broken into. Six bags, including the teacher’s, were stolen.
Ms Arzdorf lost almost all her belongings, including her clothing and an e- book, but Ms Brueckner was luckier, losing only a near- empty backpack.
They still had their passports and wallets, which they carried in their day bags, but the theft was still a shock.
The teenagers’ backpacks, and most of their possessions, were found dumped by a roadside near Opononi on Friday, however. All that remained missing were Ms Arzdorf’s socks, T-shirts and shoes, and a collection of pebbles from every place the pair had visited.
Ms Brueckner said the theft had made them angry and upset, but afterwards they had been invited to stay at a “wonderful place” and shown a lot of kindness. She had told her parents about the theft and people’s generosity afterwards, and now they also wanted to come to New Zealand.
The pair were in the final days of a 10- week trip around New Zealand, which included five weeks working as conservation volunteers in Auckland and on the West Coast, where they planted trees, got rid of weeds and helped build bike tracks.
Ms Brueckner said the break-in had been upsetting, but even before their property was recovered it had not ruined their trip.
“There are thieves all over the world, and a lot of people have also been supporting us,” she said.
The pair had planned to travel to Cape Reinga but were instead taken in for the night by a Kerikeri couple. Others donated replacement bags and clothing. They resumed their travels on Friday, and flew out from New Zealand yesterday.
It was not clear how the thieves had got into the locked campervan, but entry to the college van was gained by smashing a rear window, taking bags owned by the teacher and Year 13 history students who were on a field trip researching pre- 1840 interactions between missionaries and Maori. A few lost wallets with cash, bank cards and driver licences, but most lost only packed lunches and homework.
Teacher Alistair Leitch said it was sad that someone would stoop to stealing school bags from a clearly marked school van.
“Some of the students are pretty upset. You just feel violated,” he said.
Sergeant Phil Le Comte said police wanted to speak to a couple seen in the carpark in a silver/grey car. The driver was a female Maori in her 20s with dark hair pulled back from her face; her passenger was described as a male Maori aged about 30 with unkempt hair and facial hair or stubble. He was wearing a sleeveless green polar fleece top with a yellow high-vis neckline.
Sergeant Le Comte urged the couple, or anyone who knew who they were, to contact him at the Kerikeri station on ( 09) 407- 9211. Anonymous tips could be passed on via Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111.
He also advised people leaving their vehicles, especially in areas with few people about, to hide bags out of sight and not leave valuables behind.