Tequila bottle smashed on store worker's head 

Police are hunting for a man who smashed a bottle of tequila on the head of a liquor store worker in a robbery.

in Whangarei police say the Otaika Liquor shop assistant was lucky not to be seriously injured in the attack on Tuesday afternoon. He was discharged from Whangarei Hospital that day with nine stitches in head.

"He was very lucky," Detective Constable Pepe Reihana said.

Police have released security camera footage of the teenage attacker in the hope the public will identify the man.

The male Maori aged in his mid-to-late teens, walked into the shop on Otaika Rd about 1.30pm. He was wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark pants.

Mr Reihana said the attacker had spoken to the assistant when he came into the shop, and slowly approached the worker before attacking him from side-on.

The tequila bottle had smashed in the attack. The offender had then waved the remnants at the worker and demanded cash.

The worker handed over $100 to $400 before the attacker ran off.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)