From the Nelson Mail:

Racial motive suspected

A Nelson man has been arrested after what police describe as two racially motivated attacks on Asians in the city last night.

Nelson Bays area commander Inspector Brian McGurk said the first attack happened when a woman of southeast Asian descent came home to her St Vincent St house and found the 39-year-old man in her garage about 6.30pm.

She got into a fight with the man when she tried to kick him out. He allegedly punched her and put her in a headlock, then ran off before police arrived, Mr McGurk said.

About 11pm, the same man was walking along Hardy St with two boys, aged 15 and 16.

The group saw an Indian man and allegedly yelled abuse at him, including “Leave the country” and “F… off, you Asian”.

One of the boys allegedly attacked the Indian man, who ran away.

Mr McGurk said there was no connection between the victims. He would not draw any connections with a recent skinhead attack on a group of Asian students.

Senior Constable Phil Wylie of Nelson police said last night’s attacks were likely to be racially motivated.

The man has been charged with insulting behaviour, being unlawfully on a property and assaulting a female. The boys have been referred to Youth Aid.