New Zealand tourist lodge owner charged with drugging, sexually assaulting, filming 16 guests

SYDNEY – The owner of a New Zealand tourist lodge has been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting 16 guests, most of whom were from overseas.

Police said Wednesday that Michael Harris was charged with 39 offenses against 16 men, including indecent assault, drugging a victim to facilitate an indecent assault and making intimate visual recordings. Harris owns the Main Street Lodge in the North Island town of Kaitaia.

The guests were mostly overseas tourists between ages 18 and 25 who stayed in the owner's home at the lodge over the past two and a half years. The lodge has a hostel, hotel rooms and also offers longer-term accommodation in the owner's residence.