Attack on pregnant woman in city street | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

A pregnant woman was dragged out of a shop and viciously assaulted by a young woman in Rotorua's central city in front of a crowd of people waiting for buses.

The 24-year-old victim was taken to Rotorua Hospital with facial injuries after she was punched, kicked and stomped on near a bus stop in Pukuatua St, in full view of up to 20 people.

Trouble flared when the victim was followed into a dairy by a young woman screaming and yelling abuse at her, including calling her a "black b****". Witnesses said the attacker was accusing the victim of "sleeping with her man".

When asked to leave by the dairy owner, the woman went outside and continued the abuse from the doorway. The dairy owner, who did not want to be named, said the victim was terrified and did not want to leave the shop.

A witness at the bus stop said: "We saw the chicky nutting off at the girl in the shop telling her to come out. The girl wouldn't come out so she went into the shop and started slapping the girl around and dragged her out by the collar of her jersey and pulled her across the ground.

"She dragged her around the corner and started assaulting her."

The attack continued around the corner of the building for a few minutes as the victim lay helpless on the ground. Witnesses say she was punched and stomped on, before the attacker strode off leaving the badly shaken victim to be comforted by bystanders.

The victim told The Daily Post she had never seen her attacker before and did not know why she was set upon.

The Daily Post were present during the attack and ensured police were called.

The witness, who also called police, said she believed this type of violence was not uncommon.

"This is quite normal in Rotorua - people take photos and put it on the internet. They get a kick out of it," she said.

"I was concerned because I had a special needs child with me and he was upset. He doesn't like violence."

Andre Jansen manages the shop next to the dairy and heard the abuse begin. He said the victim, who was alone, was just going about her own business and did not appear to provoke the other woman.

Mr Jansen said there had been issues in the area with people hanging around the bus stop causing trouble.

"I hear a lot of disagreements here but it doesn't often come to a full on brawl like that," he said. "People seem to hang out outside the shop a fair bit. It's a catalyst for brawls.

"I was hoping with the [City Safe] Guardians, this might die down. It's not a good look for tourists."

Rotorua District Council community safety officer Amy Duckett said the area was a well-known trouble spot for the Guardians, who had been out on city streets for about a month.

"The Guardians are aware that is a problem area, it's one of the main places they patrol," she said.

She said feedback on the Guardians had generally been positive and they had stopped a number of incidents from escalating.

Acting area commander Inspector Ed van den Broek said Rotorua police had increased beat patrols in the CBD over the holiday period and that would continue until the end of the school holidays. He said the Guardians and Maori Wardens were also out on the streets but couldn't be everywhere at once.

"We still rely on the public who are our eyes and ears to help us," he said.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the attack or has any information to contact them on (07) 348 0099 or (0800) Crimestopper.