A Napier woman was dragged from her car and sexually assaulted while on a break near her work in Ahururi last night.
Police said in a statement that the woman was attacked about 9.45pm yesterday.
She was sitting in her car on a street behind her work having a "smoko break" when a man approached her.
Detective Sergeant Jason Crowe said the man dragged her out of the car and into Ahuriri Park, where he sexually assaulted her.
The woman was found about half an hour later by her work colleagues. She suffered minor injuries.
Mr Crowe said police were keen to speak to anyone who was in the area around the time of the attack.
"This was a serious attack on an innocent victim who has been traumatised and badly shaken by her ordeal. It's important that we talk to anyone who can shed some light on who was responsible for this.
"There would have been a reasonable amount of traffic in the area around that time last night, so anyone driving past Princess Alexandra or around the Ahuriri Park area may have seen someone acting suspiciously," Mr Crowe said.
Descriptions of the offender were vague at the moment.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Mr Crowe on 06 8310700 or information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.