Police in Gisborne are investigating a reported robbery and sexual assault involving a girl.
Senior Sergeant Dave Greig says a girl, 13, was found wandering in a dazed and confused state in the central Hastings area at about 8.30pm on Wednesday.
She has told the police she was near the Russell Street public toilets between 6pm - 7pm when she was approached by five or six youths.
Senior Sergeant Greig says she was taken into the male toilet, where her handbag was taken and it appears she was sexually assaulted.
He says the girl is being formally interviewed on Thursday by detectives.