A teenager who was raped and repeatedly stabbed during a horrific attack said she bit her attacker on the hand.
Police said he would be trying to conceal the injury.
The 14-year-old Vietnamese girl was woken by the intruder at her Manukau home in the early hours of last Friday,
December 31.
She was raped and stabbed 10 times before being dragged outside and thrown over a fence and down a 3m drop to a reserve.
The girl's cries for help after she was thrown into the reserve alerted her mother and probably saved her life, said Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger, who is heading the investigation.
Ms Schwalger said the public response to an Identikit picture of the attacker had been positive.
"We've had several phone calls from people nominating someone who looks like that person and we're following up those leads," she said.
"We're also still focusing on house-to-house inquiries in the area."
The girl had also described a distinctive lanyard, or cord, the man wore around his neck with a set of keys attached.
The cord was orange or yellow and had writing on it, said Ms Schwalger. "We are asking the public for their help as someone will know this man."
Police have also appealed for the person who stole a Subaru Legacy from Howick before the attack to come forward. The vehicle was found in the reserve where the girl was found.
Anyone with information can ring 0800 GERONA (0800 437-662).
