'Horrendous and cowardly' attack on elderly man

Police are looking for a group of teens after an elderly Kapiti man was injured in a confrontation with teenagers. Photo / NZ Herald

An attack on an elderly man on the Kapiti Coast is being described as brutal by police.

The 87-year-old confronted a group of teenagers who were jumping in bushes at the front of his Waikanae Beach property on the weekend.

He asked them to move along, but one of the youths verbally abused then struck him, pushing him off-balance.

Detective Mike Stone said the man had been shoved into the ground hitting his face on the road.

"He fractured his cheekbone, had deep lacerations to his forehead and extensive bruising to his face and arms,'' said Mr Stone.

He was taken to hospital overnight after he was found lying on the road bleeding by a neighbour.

"The attack was horrendous and cowardly on a frail and brittle old man,'' he said.

Police said the youth wanted in connection with the shove was a European aged about 18. He was wearing a black top, black three quarter length shorts and a black baseball cap.