Witnesses are being sought to an aggravated robbery in Wairoa after nine youths - some as young as 12 years old and dressed in gang colours - robbed a young tourist for her cigarettes and money yesterday afternoon.
It was the second gang-related attack on a citizen with no gang connection in Hawke's Bay this week.
Police in the northern Hawke's Bay town were appealing to public in the vicinity of Marine Parade about 4.50pm yesterday who may have seen the group of nine males approach the 21-year-old tourist.
Wairoa Police Sergeant Matt King said the youths, aged between 12 and 16, approached the young New Zealand woman and demanded her cigarettes and money, grabbing it from her forcefully when she refused.
The youths were wearing gang colours, and were apprehended by police a short time later after the victim called 111.