Shocked pedestrians watched an explicit sex tape playing on the overhead screen above the Shortland St store, in central Auckland, when it was hacked on Sunday morning

An Asics sports store played a pornographic video on its promotional screens for two hours before staff were notified and scrambled to turn them off.

Shocked pedestrians watched an explicit sex tape playing on the overhead screen above the Shortland St store, in central Auckland, when it was hacked on Sunday morning.

Security officer Dwayne Hinagano, who witnessed the gaffe, told the NZ Herald bystanders were taken aback by the material.

'The video ran for a long time, maybe two hours from 8am until the shop staff arrived at about 10am. Some people were shocked, but others just stopped and watched,' he said.

Another witness reported seeing the video at 1am.

Tanya Lee, 29, noticed the video while she was taking her 7-year-old son to breakfast.

'I took a second look because I just couldn't believe what I was seeing,' Lee told NZ Herald.

'It's totally inappropriate and offensive, not something that you want kids exposed to and it's also embarrassing for Auckland as a tourist destination.'

Asics NZ confirmed the hacking on their Facebook page (pictured) and apologised for the incident

Asics NZ confirmed the hacking on their Facebook page and apologised for the incident.

'This morning an unknown person gained access to the screens above our Central Auckland store and some objectionable content was displayed on the screens. We would like to apologise to anyone who may have seen this,' it read.

'We are working with our software and online security suppliers to ensure this doesn’t happen again.'

Bemused Facebook users were quick to poke fun at the blunder.

'If only someone had proof. Asics with poor internet security,' one man said.

Another wrote: 'Waking up to porn: Just another Sunday in Auckland.'

'What a wonderful world,' added a third.