A woman leaving a swimming pool in Warkworth was assaulted in a "vicious and cowardly" attack by a man wearing white gloves yesterday.

The woman, in her 20s, was attacked in a car park after leaving the Mahurangi College swimming pool, near the intersection of Woodcocks Rd and State Highway 1, around 7.05pm.

Police said a muscular, dark-skinned man in his 20s wearing white gloves assaulted the woman.

"This is a vicious and cowardly attack with very sinister undertones," Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Batty said.

He said the assault lasted only a short time as the offender was scared off, possibly by other people leaving or arriving at the pools.

The victim required medical treatment but wasn't believed to have been seriously injured.

Police officers, detectives, the dog squad and the police Eagle helicopter searched the scene but failed to find the attacker.

Batty said the speech patterns of the offender suggested English wasn't his first language.

He said police were following several leads, but needed the public's help to catch the offender.

"I am appealing to any members of the greater Warkworth community who recognise the description provided, or who may have observed suspicious activity in or around the Mahurangi College campus either on the night in question or in the days leading up to it, to contact me immediately," Batty said.

Anyone with information can call Batty at the Orewa police station on 09 4265 871 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

- © Fairfax NZ News