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A 12-year-old Hastings girl has been traumatised and her family left in shock after she was attacked and raped in the grounds of a primary school while walking home from a "krumping" dance event in the city on Saturday night.
While her parents thought she was sleeping safely at a relative's home, the young girl was allegedly attacked and raped as she walked through Ebbett Park Primary School.
The girl told police she had been watching krumping in central Hastings with her teenage friends - when she began walking to the relative's home in Raureka about 10.30pm.
She became separated from her friends, and ended up in the school grounds after becoming disoriented.
She later told police it was while she was walking through the grounds that she was attacked.
Two men who were waiting for a taxi later found the distressed girl wandering down Oliphant Road at 2.15am, and called police.
Constable Lisa Tod said the girl was injured and traumatised by the attack, and her family shocked. Her family had taught her values about keeping safe and the dangers of being out at night, and were "absolutely devastated".
"I think it is something every parent is facing, with young teenagers wanting to go out to town. It is very sad this has occurred," she said.
Ms Tod said younger crowds often roamed the streets at night.
"No matter how much parents try to do the right thing and instil the message in their children, sometimes they do not tell their parents the truth - and it was the same in our day - and things get out of hand."
Ms Tod said police did not believe the krumping competition was an organised event, instead crowds of teens gathered in a central Hastings carpark to watch the latest dance craze. Krumping is a high-energy, expressive dance craze.
"I believe it is becoming more popular, it is the latest fad in America and we are seeing it following suit here."
Ms Tod said police would be looking at CCTV footage to see whether the krumping was captured on security footage - and the girl would be interviewed by Child Youth and Family today.
Police investigations included checking whether the attacker was at the krumping or had been at a nearby party.
The attacker was described as a Maori male in his mid-teens, wearing a white "krumping" shirt with a blue and black design and jeans.
He had shaggy, shoulder-length hair with a rat's tail.
Anyone with information on the attack should contact Hastings police on 873 0500 or the confidential crimeline on 0800 567 789.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
