Hawke's Bay police are searching for a man who threatened a schoolgirl with a knife after she refused to get into his car at Waipawa.
The incident occurred near the Waipawa Bridge, about 40km south of Hastings, at about 3.30pm last Wednesday.
The 12-year-old girl was walking home from Waipawa Primary School when she was stopped by a Maori or Polynesian man in his late 30s to 40s, wearing a red t-shirt.
The man drove off when the girl pulled out her phone to get help.
Police say it was an isolated event and are asking anyone who may have information about the incident to contact the police in Hastings.
