A boy's head was held under the water during a river assault in Wainoni yesterday.

Three 12-year-old boys were walking home from school when they stopped at the river near the corner of Avonside Dr and Wainoni Rd about 3.15pm.

The Press understands the boys may have been throwing stones at ducks in the river.

Detective Sergeant Richard Quested said a European man, wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans, approached the boys.

"They were mucking around, as boys do," Quested said.

"The male has assaulted one of the boys and thrown him into the river. He then held the boy's head under the water.

"The young boy received some bruising and cuts and is very shaken by the incident."

Quested said the man had "gone way over the top".

"He just lost it," he said.

Police were interviewing witnesses and wanted to speak to the man involved in the assault.

Quested said the man was reported to be a passenger in a small red vehicle, possibly a hatchback.

A female was driving the vehicle and there were two children in the vehicle.

The vehicle was parked in a gravel layby about 30 metres from Wainoni Rd in Avonside Dr.

Anyone with information is asked to call Quested on 373 9102 or the Christchurch police on  363 7400.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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