Appeal for information after daylight assault involving a child in Havelock North

11:23 am today

The person police are looking for may have been driving a grey Nissan Navara ute with roof racks, but no canopy.

Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER

Police are appealing for information after what they described as an assault at a park in Havelock North, which involved a child.

At Guthrie Park, about 3:10pm on Friday, "a 12-year-old child was approached by a stranger at the BMX park", Detective Inspector James Keene said.

The person police are looking for was driving a vehicle that could be a grey Nissan Navara ute with roof racks, but no canopy.

Police want to hear from anyone who was in the area between 2pm and 3:30pm that day, including at the park, in the carpark or at the BMX park.

"Additionally, we are also looking for any dashcam footage or cell phone footage, that was captured in the area between 2pm - 3.30pm that shows a vehicle of a similar description," Keene said.

Police would be out in the area on Sunday and the coming days carrying out "reassurance patrols".

"Police know incidents such as this can cause concern in our community, however we would urge people to be alert, not alarmed, and take care to note your surroundings if you are out alone in a public place," Keene said.

Information about the incident could be reported online or by calling 105 (reference 260605/8399).

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