File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Hawke's Bay parents are being advised to be advise parents to be alert - but not alarmed - after a man approached a young girl walking home in Whakatu.
Detective Sergeant Karli Whiu said Hastings police were investigating a suspicious approach in the Whakatu area.
The man approached the girl and began interacting with her as she was walking home at about 3.15pm yesterday.
Police are now investigating the incident.
"We acknowledge the girl who has done the right thing by avoiding the man, making her way home, and telling her caregivers," said Whiu.
"We understand an incident like this can be unsettling to the community however, we ask parents to be alert, not alarmed."
Whiu encouraged parents and caregivers to "have discussions around behaviours and actions that are inappropriate or that make a child feel uncomfortable".
"This enables them to identify behaviours that make them uncomfortable, unsafe or scared, and take action by removing themselves from the situation and tell someone they trust."
Anybody in the Whakatu area may who have CCTV or dashcam footage have been asked to review their footage and get in touch with police if they see any suspicious activity.
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