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A dairy owner says she is scared to return to work after an attack which left her needing stitches.
Susan Kishor's eye was swollen and bruised, needing five stitches, after a man robbed her as she worked at her store, Bucklands Beach Superette, about 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Police say the attack was racially motivated.
The 33-year-old has taken time off work and is now considering leaving the business she and her husband have owned for more than two years.
"I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I was quite terrified," Mrs Kishor said.
"What if he had a gun or something, or knife?
"The day it happened, I just said to my husband 'we'd better sell this business'.
"At the moment it's unsettled what we're going to do."
Mrs Kishor said a man had been sitting outside in a car for almost an hour and had been staring at her before he came in and asked for party pills.
He told her he needed more money so he left and came back and tried to buy two pies and some chocolates.
As the man handed her a $20 note, he punched her in the face and grabbed a pile of cash from the open till and ran away, Mrs Kishor said.
Police have arrested a 27-year-old West Auckland truck driver and charged him with robbery, reckless driving and failing to stop for police.
He has been remanded on bail and will next appear in court in October.
