Dairy owner chases off knife-weilding robber

File photo / NZ Herald

A would-be robber wielding a large carving knife was chased away by a Wellington dairy owner last night.

At about 8pm a man entered the Tawa Central Dairy and attempted to buy a soft drink, Detective James Withington said.

When he was told he didn't have enough money he produced a large carving knife and went behind the counter towards the store owner.

"Luckily, the store owner managed to chase the offender out of the store," Mr Withington said.

The assailant then ran off and dropped the knife at a New World building site.

Porirua police would like to hear from anyone with any information on the aggravated robbery.

The robber was described as European, unshaven, wearing black pants, a black hooded top with the hood up, with a pair of sunglasses on his head.