Police are scouring through security tape footage in the hunt for a masked robber who ran off with cash from the Kamo Hotel.
The bar was closed for most of the morning yesterday as specialist officers and detectives examined the Public Bar area where the robbery happened about 5pm on Tuesday.
Detective Sergeant John Miller said officers were trying to piece together the man's movements before he went into the bar and where he may have run off to.
"We've secured a number of surveillance footage to see if we can identify him," Mr Miller said.
"The incident happened when there was plenty of people around so we want any sighting of a man acting suspiciously to be reported to police."
He said it was unclear how long the balaclava-clad robber had been hanging around before entering the bar through a side door to a service area and then through to the bar.
After the robber, armed with a weapon, took the money he fled into the public car park. Where he went from there remains a mystery.
Police were not releasing the amount of money that had been taken.
No one was injured during the aggravated robbery and some patrons in the bar were unaware of the masked man.
The first they knew of the crime was when police officers walked into the bar.
If you can help police solve the crime call Whangarei station on 09 430 4500.