Police hunt eight-year-old's attacker

File photo / Martin Sykes

An eight-year-old girl is having trauma counselling after a failed attempt to kidnap her at Kumeu, northwest of Auckland yesterday.

Police said a man tried to force her into a car as she walked to school.

When she resisted, he slapped her on the head before driving off, said police.

Rodney CIB said the girl was walking to school about 7.30am with her brother and sister.

Her brother and sister walked ahead and a gap between the girl and the other two opened, leaving her on her own.

When she approached Boord Crescent in Kumeu a black saloon car pulled up alongside her and a man got out, grabbed her left arm and demanded she get into the car.

"When the young girl declined the male offender has slapped the victim to the top of her head before getting back into the car and driving from the scene," police spokesman Kevin Loughlin said.

The man was described as brown skinned and was wearing black hoodie.

His car was a black four-door saloon and a dog was in the back seat.

The car registration was not known.

Mr Loughlin said in a statement the young girl was extremely shaken and upset.

"She is receiving counselling and all available assistance from Victim Support and other agencies.

"Police are seriously concerned about the nature of this reported attack.

"Every available resource is being used to identify and locate this man before he tries to abduct or kidnap other girls of a similar age."

Anyone with information should call police immediately.

- NZPA