Alleged failed kidnappers hunted by police

File photo / Martin Sykes

Police have issued descriptions of three men they are hunting over an alleged attempt to kidnap a Taranaki woman on Saturday.

A truck driver saw the woman struggling with two men who were trying to force her into their car on State Highway 3 at Uruti, 34km northeast of Waitara, and rescued her.

One of the men was described as dark-skinned, skinny with thick short straight hair with a tattoo on the left side of his neck, another was described as a Maori or Pacific Islander with curly hair and tattoos along the length of one arm.

A third man never got out of the silver Nissan they were travelling in, Detective Sergeant Chris Allen told NZPA.

Detective Brent Matuku of New Plymouth said police were speaking with witnesses and would also be following up several phone calls.

The truck driver saw the men wrestling with the young woman and yelled at them. The men bolted and he then took the victim to Waitara police station.

The alleged victim told the truck driver her probation work party boss had left her vulnerable by abandoning her on the side of a road.

The Corrections Department said they would investigate the incident.

The woman, who had a brace on her leg, told the truck driver she had had an argument with her community probation work party boss after she told him her leg hurt and she needed to sit down.

Her crutches were in the probation van when the group drove off leaving her behind.

- NZPA