Man asked for girl's help before assault

A 14-year-old girl who was viciously bashed and sexually assaulted behind a Lower Hutt library has told police she had accompanied a man who asked her to help him.

The bloodied and unconscious girl was found behind the Taita Library on Wednesday night by a family out walking.

She was discharged yesterday from Hutt Valley Hospital where she had had tests, Detective Sergeant Tusha Penny said.

The attack left her with cuts to her lip, a heavily swollen jaw and bruising on the back of her head and ear.

"She's still very sore and taking medication," Ms Penny said. "She's recovering, but she's still got injuries which will take a few weeks to heal."

Police had now formally interviewed the girl, who was staying with relatives in Taita for the Christmas break.

She told police the man had asked her to help him find something behind the library, Ms Penny said, declining to say what he said he was looking for.

"She's gone behind the building with him consensually."

Police had received information from the Taita community, which had been very supportive of the investigation, she said. "There are a lot of concerned households there."

Police were keeping an open mind as to whether the man was a local resident, Ms Penny said. "Honestly, we don't know where he's from."

The girl's immediate family is considering whether to return home in the next few days but police will not reveal where in the North Island she is from for fear of identifying her.

"The family are in shock and they are just trying to come to terms with what has happened and help her deal with it."

The man was described as a Pacific Islander aged between 25 and 30, about 1.8m tall, of solid build with close-cut black hair.

- NZPA