KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting for a man who lured a 13-year-old girl into his car then sexually and physically abused her while driving around West Auckland for 45 minutes.
The girl was walking along West Coast Rd in Glen Eden going to visit a friend about 2pm on Saturday
when the man pulled up alongside her in a small to medium-sized silver car.
Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie said the man asked the girl for directions, which she gave to him. The man then insisted the girl get into his car to show him how to get to the place he was looking for.
The terrified girl was then driven around several suburbs, which are believed to have included the Titirangi, Laingholm and Woodlands Park.
She was threatened, physically assaulted and sexually violated throughout the 45-minute ordeal.
For most of the time she was forced to keep her head down near the footwell but at one stage managed to look out the window and saw pink statues which are believed to be the ones in the middle of the Titirangi roundabout.
Ms Goldie said the girl was eventually dropped off near the intersection of Woodvale Rd and Ambler Ave in Glen Eden.
The car was last seen driving towards Woodglen Rd.
The girl, who has distinctive coloured long straight hair and was wearing blue jeans and a light jacket, ran to her friend's place crying. She is understood to still be in shock after her ordeal.
Police are treating the case as an abduction and sexual assault.
Ms Goldie said police were appealing to anyone with information or sightings of the car on Saturday afternoon to contact Waitakere police.
It is hoped someone may also recognise the description of the man's key ring which had a large number of keys and a driver's licence enclosed in a plastic case attached to it.
Ms Goldie said police were looking at other reported cases of men approaching children but they had not found any clear links to the case.
Police want parents to remind their children of the importance of keeping themselves safe and reporting any approaches by strangers.
Ms Goldie said police would like to hear about any other approaches to children with requests for directions. Anyone with information should call Waitakere Police on 839 0600.