KEY POINTS:
Police appeal for witnesses to supermarket hold-Police are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated robbery at Auckland supermarket in the early hours of this morning.
Tens of thousands of dollars were stolen after staff at the Botany Countdown were threatened with a machete.
Investigation head Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Pizzini said he believed the first offender entered the supermarket at 11.15pm.
He posed as a shopper pushing a trolley around the supermarket.
A second offender entered the shop at 11.45pm.
"The second offender spoke to the first offender and then made his way to the public entrance of the shop."
"He then caused some disruption and distracted staff in the store. This is when the first offender approached the checkout operators in the store and threatened them with a machete, demanding cash."
Both men left the supermarket after 12.20am, the first through a rear fire exit door, and the second through the front entrance.
The first man was seen getting into a grey or silver sedan-shaped vehicle.
No one was hurt in the incident, but Mr Pizzini said staff were traumatised by the event.
Police were keen to speak with anyone who had information about the incident, particularly anyone who saw the car any time after 10pm.
Both men were described as Maori or Polynesian with solid builds, in their early 20s.
The first offender was about 1.72m-1.77m tall, clean shaven with one small piece of facial hair on his chin. He was wearing a red t-shirt with a white pattern on it, black three quarter length pants, long black socks and a dark cap. He was carrying a navy or black shoulder bag.
Before approaching the cashiers, he changed into white shorts and a black jacket, and wore a white hockey-like mask over his face.
The second man was described as 1.8m tall with fizzy hair and a goatee beard. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a white pattern on it with three quarter-length black pants and black and white trainers.
Anyone with information was asked to contact police at Manukau or Otara stations.
- NZPA
