Hastings police are investigating an incident in which a young girl was approached by a man as she was walking home in Whakatu.
Detective Sergeant Karli Whiu said the incident occurred at around 3.15pm on Tuesday.
The man began interacting with her as she made her way home, Whiu said.
“We acknowledge the girl who has done the right thing by avoiding the man, making her way home, and telling her caregivers.”
Whiu said officers were working to understand what occurred and inquiries were ongoing.
"We understand an incident like this can be unsettling to the community however, we ask parents to be alert, not alarmed.
“Police encourage parents and caregivers to have discussions around behaviours and actions that are inappropriate or that make a child feel uncomfortable.
“This enables them to identify behaviours that make them uncomfortable, unsafe or scared, and take action by removing themselves from the situation and tell someone they trust.”
Whiu asked those in the Whakatu area with CCTV or dashcams to review their footage from Tuesday at around 3.15pm, and to get in touch if they observed any suspicious activity.
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