Appeal for sightings of would-be abductor

Police believe someone must have seen a man who attempted to abduct an 11-year-old girl in broad daylight in a public place in Queenstown yesterday.

The primary school student was walking to Wakatipu High School when the man accosted her about 3.10pm.

She was able to free herself from the man's grip and run into the school after he ordered her into his car, Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett told NZPA.

An adult called police immediately, he said.

The area where the incident took place was right next to the high school gymnasium in a cul-de-sac where parents gathered to pick up their children after school.

"(The car) was in a very visual place, parked at the kerb and we would have thought at the alleged time of the incident...that there would be some parents arriving to pick up their children that get out about 10 minutes later.

"It was a very bold effort in such a visible space. There's a lot of eyes in and around that area."

Police have spoken with the girl who gave a description of the man and his car.

He was described as Maori, aged 30-35 years-old, of a solid build, short to medium height, with short black hair and a rats tail.

He was wearing a dark purple T-shirt with white markings on it, jeans and sunglasses. He was in a dark green car.

Police had made inquiries with residents of homes that overlooked the area, Mr Bartlett said.

"We're compiling a person of interest list of people that are known to us that have a propensity to approach children, or have leanings towards children.

"Queenstown is no different to anywhere else. We do have, unfortunately, some people living in this town that do have a leaning towards this type of offending."

He said it was vital parents contact police if they had heard through their children of a similar incident happening.

"We would be naive to think there hadn't been other incidents - they're not usually one-offs."

Mr Bartlett said alerts were being sent out to schools warning parents, teachers and pupils to "exercise caution" after the abduction attempt.

Parents, children and staff would be urged to be careful and vigilant, he said.

Its the third schoolgirl abduction attempt in the country within a month. There have so far been no arrests.

A 15-year-old was chased by a man attempting to lure her into his ute in Hamilton on April 7.

He told her to get in the vehicle and tried to grab her.

When the girl fled the driver got out and chased her until she managed to lose him.

The offender was described as a Maori or Pacific Islander of muscular build, about 182cm tall and wearing a black hoodie, white beanie and black jeans.

A high school student was dragged into a car by a man in Timaru on March 23 but managed to escape when the vehicle stopped near a scenic reserve.

The man was described as tall and slim, in his late 20s or early 30s and wearing black clothing with a hoodie and black sunglasses.

- NZPA