Armed robbery at Porirua dairy

File photo / NZ HErald

Police are appealing for witnesses to an armed robbery at a Porirua dairy north of Wellington.

The aggravated robbery happened at the Lakeside Centre Dairy on Whitby's Discovery Drive, just before 8pm yesterday.

The store owner was preparing to close for the evening when a man entered the dairy armed with a knife, Detective Sergeant Mike Priston said.

He demanded tobacco and money and ran from the shop with several tobacco pouches.

The man was believed to have run towards the lower Whitby lake area, Mr Priston said.

The store owner was shaken, but not injured.

Mr Priston said the man was described as about 175cm tall, thin to medium build and about 20-years-old.

He wore a black coloured bandanna over his head, which also covered his face.

"Several people would have been in the area before and after this incident occurred and they would have possibly seen the offender," Mr Priston said.

"If anyone has any information about the aggravated robbery I would encourage them to come forward."