Hawera police are appealing for information from the public after a "wrinkly" man tried to lure a 12-year-old boy into his car with lollies.

Sergeant Kim Severinsen said a man pulled up in a black "people mover" vehicle beside the boy on Turuturu Rd at 5.50pm on Saturday. Three times he asked the boy if he wanted a ride home, offering him lollies, before the boy ran off down Kamahi Ave.

The man's vehicle was last seen turning towards Glover Rd.

Mr Severinsen said police would like assistance identifying the vehicle or the driver, so they can speak to the man about his intentions.

He is described as about 50 years old with a brown beard, wrinkly facial skin and white hair.

The man was wearing a black top, with a black and white shirt.

His vehicle was in dirty condition with rear window tints and had distinctive extras like a baby on board rear sticker and a leaf-shaped air freshener in the front.

Hawera had a couple of instances of stranger-danger alert around Hawera Intermediate last year, however Mr Severinsen said the incident did not appear linked to those.