KEY POINTS:
Police are searching for three teenagers after a schoolgirl was raped in a central Whangarei park over the weekend.
Detective Sergeant Rob Huys of Whangarei CIB said a 14-year-old girl was raped when she took a short cut through Tarewa Park on about 10pm on Friday.
Mr Huys said the girl was approached by three older teenagers, two male and one female as she cut through the park.
One of the young men then raped the girl.
Police said they were looking for two Maori males, aged 15-20, and a young Maori woman, about 15 or 16-years-old.
One of the males was described as having short dark spiky hair and a muscular build and the other as tall and slim.
The woman was also said to be slim with dark hair tied in a ponytail.
Police said they were interested in hearing from two people who helped the girl after the attack, Mr Huys said.
They were described as a Maori man, aged about 50, with short dark hair, a medium build, about 1.76m tall and wearing a red jacket; and a Caucasian woman aged between 40- and 50-years-old, about 1.78m tall, of medium build, with blonde bushy hair and was wearing a top with a tan jacket.
"It should be reiterated that the mentioned persons are not in any trouble and are to be commended for their actions in assisting the victim in her time of need," Mr Huys said.
However it was important that they contact the police as it was likely that they held valuable information concerning the case.
Police were also keen to hear from any other members of the public who may have seen anything suspicious in the area about 10pm.
- NZPA
