Shop worker bashed with hammer

File photo / Martin Sykes

A man was bashed in the head with a hammer during a "vicious attack" and robbery at a Wellington dairy last night.

Police say that at about 7pm, the 48-year-old victim was working at the Hankey Street Food Market in the central Wellington suburb of Mt Cook when a man walked into the store wearing a disguise.

"The man walked towards the store employee and a struggle between the two began behind the counter," said Detective Sergeant Martin Todd of Wellington police.

"The victim was hit in the head and upper body with the hammer multiple times. The man took cigarettes and cash before running from the store."

Mr Todd said once leaving the shop, the offender turned left and ran down Hopper Street where he passed two men who later spoke to the victim.

The man was knocked to the ground during the attack and received moderate injuries to his head and torso area.

"It was a vicious attack, especially as a hammer was used to attack the
victim," said Mr Todd.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the attack or any suspicious activity around the time of the incident, including the two men the offender ran past on Hopper Street.

The offender is described as a Maori or Pacific Islander male, aged about 20 years old. He is about 165 centimetres tall and of stocky build with short black hair. He was wearing a black puffer-type bomber jacket and black jeans.

- NZ Herald staff