Police know that seven Polynesian friends witnessed their friend brutally rape a 20-year-old woman in the early hours of Sunday morning near Courtney Place.
Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Perry says the victim has told the Police that while she was being attacked the offender spoke to his friends who had followed him into the Mitre 10 car park.
She says they spoke to each other in a Pacific Island language and they stood in the car park area and looked down the alley while she was being raped.
"These men have not participated in this brutal rape, but by protecting the offender's identity they are prolonging the victim's trauma and recovery.
"They know who the offender is. The Wellington Pacific community can easily solve this brutal rape and the Wellington Police are working with them to do that," says Detective Senior Sergeant Perry.
"In previous serious crime enquiries the PI community has displayed their willingness to assist in these investigations and we urge them to encourage these seven men to come forward. These people will be treated as witnesses."
The attack took place in the Tory/Holland St area at about 5.30am on Sunday 25 March 2007.
Simon Perry
Detective Senior Sergeant
027 449 0277
Detective Senior Sergeant Perry is happy to be interviewed.