A man who admitted raping and sexually violating a pair of Dutch tourists in January has lost his appeal against his sentence.
Maakiti Joseph Tipene appeared for sentence in the Invercargill District Court in April.
He was jailed for 10 years, with a minimum non-parole period of six years and six months.
In a decision released on Wednesday the Court of Appeal characterised Maakiti Tipene's 45-minute attack on the couple as cruel, humiliating and prolonged.
The attack in the pair's tent at a camping ground in Tuatapere included two rapes, several other sexual attacks and the theft of $750.
The sentencing judge set a starting point of 15 years and took off a third in recognition of the guilty plea.
Tipene's lawyer argued the starting point was too high.
However, the Court of Appeal has concluded the attack had a profound psychological effect on the victims and the ten year sentence is not excessive.
