Police are on the hunt for a man who assaulted a woman in her 60s in Orewa last Sunday

The woman was walking about 9pm when she says a man in his early 20s assaulted her on a grassed area on the corner of Parkside Drive and Puriri Boulevard.

She pushed him away and escaped unharmed.

She says she was followed for at least 350 metres before the assault.

Inspector Mark Fergus says it appears to be a random attack.

They describe the attacker as tall and slender with a slim face, dark-skinned complexion and short, dark hair.

Police say there will be increased patrols of the area.