Police are alerting schools about a man who attempted to abduct an eight-year-old girl in Papamoa yesterday.

The Papamoa Primary school student was scootering home from school when police say a man pulled up in a dark coloured sedan and tried to entice the girl into the car.

Police say a man tried to entice a young girl into his car on her way home from Papamoa School yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Joel Lamb says the man invited the girl to go with him to an address.

The girl refused to get into the vehicle with the man and ran on to her father's business in a nearby industrial estate.

"In this case the child has acted appropriately by remembering the basic rule around refusing any offers from strangers," says Joel.

The man never got out of his car but called out the window and made a few inappropriate comments.

Police say the man was travelling along Te Okuroa Drive off Parton Road when the incident happened around 3pm.

The man is described as being tanned skin with grey facial hair and short grey hair.

He is believed to be driving a four-door vehicle similar to a hatchback that is dark coloured.

Te Okuroa Drive is an industrial area situated off Parton Road and Police are seeking any witnesses who observed a dark coloured vehicle speaking to a primary school students around this time.

Anyone with information should contact Mount Maunganui Police on 07 5753143. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.