Police are hunting four robbers who knocked a man to the ground, then repeatedly punched and kicked him in Hastings last night.
The 49-year-old man had been walking home alone along Flaxmere Ave about 9pm when he was hit from behind, Detective Constable Vanessa Jones said.
He was then kicked and punched and robbed as he lay on the ground before his attackers fled on foot.
The victim suffered mainly facial injuries -- cuts, bruising and two black eyes, Ms Jones told NZPA.
He spent last night in hospital for observation and was discharged this morning, she said.
Police said they wanted to hear from a male member of the public who went to the victim's aid.
Ms Jones said the man, who was fairly intoxicated, had been walking home from a local pub and described the attackers as four Maori men in their late teens.
Ms Jones also appealed to anyone else with information to contact police.
