Man hunt after bank held up in Marewa

Photo / File

Armed Offenders Squad members and Napier police with a dog team were conducting house to house searches for a man who held up a Kiwibank/Postshop outlet in Marewa this morning.

Police said in a statement that the robbery occurred at 9am when a man approached a staff member in the Kennedy Rd shop with a firearm and demanded money. Some cash was handed over and the man ran from the shop.

No one was harmed during the robbery.

Police say the robber was seen shortly after on a bicycle on Douglas McLean Ave with another person, also on a bike. Police have been combing the Marewa and Maraenui surburbs.

Members of the Armed Offenders Squad have been searching houses in Maraenui after clothes apparently used in the robbery were dumped in an empty house. The robber was wearing red shorts, a black top and a black and white bandana over his face.

Kiwibank/Postshop staff were "pretty shaken" by the armed hold-up, a spokeswoman said.

There were no injuries and staff are now helping police with their inquiries.

"Everyone is okay," she said.

"Staff dealt with it as per our normal procedures and processes."

The outlet is closed and the spokeswoman said it was unlikely to reopen until tomorrow.

It's not yet clear how much cash the robber got away with.

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact Hawke's Bay Police on 06 8310700.