Kaikoura police are appealing for help to find a man who tried to force a boy into a parked car yesterday.

The man, who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, grabbed the boy by one arm and tried to pull him toward the nearby car in Goose Bay, 16km south west of Kaikoura, about 8.45pm, Sergeant Barry Hansen said.

The boy managed to escape and ran for help.

Mr Hansen said the man's car was described a light blue sedan with black tinted windows. Anyone with information about the car or its driver should contact police, he said.