Police hunt for Auckland bank robber

File photo / NZ Herald

Police are hunting an armed man who held up an Auckland bank this afternoon.

A man gave a note to a teller at a Westpac Bank in Ponsonby demanding money, about 3.30pm, Inspector Chris Robinson of Auckland central police said.

"The teller's seen what they believed was a firearm under the person's left armpit," he told NZPA.

The teller gave the man a sum of cash and he left the bank onto Ponsonby Rd, he said.

"We don't know where he went to after that."

Police were assessing video footage and interviewing bank staff.

The bank was still calculating how money much had been taken, Mr Robinson said.

The robber was described as Maori or Polynesian.

Westpac spokesman Chris Mirams told NZPA the bank was implementing internal processes and procedures following the robbery.

"Our focus is on staff...making sure they're well cared for and supported."

The bank did not reopen after the incident.

- NZPA