Security footage may hold clues to horror quarry bashing in West Auckland timberyard

Police have today released security footage of a vehicle seen entering and leaving a Riverhead quarry where a young woman was viciously attacked at the weekend.

The footage taken from a timberyard on Sawmill Rd shows a car police now want to track down, believing it is highly likely the victim of Sunday's brutal bashing was inside as it slowly entered a remote quarry area at 1.45am.

The security camera captured the same vehicle leaving at high speed just 16 minutes later at 2.01am.

Police said it was highly likely the victim, who disappeared from a Ponsonby Rd Mobil service station on Saturday night, was inside the vehicle as it drove down the quarry driveway.

"We believe it is highly likely that the victim is inside this car and possibly unconscious when the car enters the quarry," said Waitemata Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby.

"We are consulting with automotive experts as to the possible make and model of this car, but we want to hear from anyone who may recognise this vehicle."

Libby said the victim was still recovering from her ordeal and speaking to detectives today.

She recalls spending the evening with her friends at the Pride Parade in Ponsonby before the attack but she does not recall anything until she woke up in the quarry.

Police want to identify this man seen at an Auckland petrol station with a woman who suffered a vicious bashing at a west Auckland quarry. Photo / NZ Police

Forensic tests have been taken to determine whether the woman had been drugged or stupefied.

Meanwhile, police are trying to identify and find the man seen talking to the victim outside the Mobil station on the corner of Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads earlier in the evening.

They were also following up on several calls from members of the public.

"This man is still the last person who has spoken to our victim before she has been attacked. This man may well be innocent but equally, we have to work on the strong possibility that this man could also be the man driving that car into the quarry. I am asking the public to consider whether they know anyone who fits the description of this man, who drives a car that looks like this, or someone who has access to a car that looks like this," said Libby.

A timberyard owner in the West Auckland industrial park said the vacant lot where the woman was attacked was used by many trucks during daylight.

It was also frequented by a large number of vehicles outside work hours.

"You'd be amazed at how many cars drive up and down in that area. For a dead-end road there's a lot of interest," said the sawmill owner.

He said security guards monitored the area, visiting the remote site during the night.

Police today appealed for anyone with information to contact the inquiry team on 021 191 4085.

Private messages can also be sent to the Waitemata Police Facebook page.