Police were notified when the victim was found by a member of the public.
"Somebody came across the victim in an upset state and contacted police when they realised what had happened. As a result, an inquiry was set up.
"We're looking for anyone that was in that area that might have seen anything or any person, particularly [someone] wearing a bandanna," Mr Foley said.
Anyone with information can contact Detective John McGregor or the Napier CIB on 06 831 0700, or information can be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.
It is the second such attack in recent weeks in Napier.
On October 30, an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in broad daylight in the Georges Drive greenbelt area. Police released a description of a man they wished to speak to regarding that incident, which occurred about 4.30pm, who was wearing a yellow plastic watch.
"This was a relatively busy time of day and there would have been a number of people on foot in the area, and Georges Drive traffic would have been quite busy," Constable Steve Leonard said at the time.
The offender was described as a male caucasian, clean-shaven, in his early 20s, of slim build and about 1.7m tall. He had short, straight brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue checked long-sleeved shirt, black jeans and a yellow plastic watch on his right wrist.
