Police are thanking a man dressed in a pink fairy costume who helped to catch an alleged robber in Napier.

Photo: Supplied

The man was wearing a pink crop top, miniskirt, fishnets and fairy wings after attending a breast cancer awareness event yesterday.

He and another person tackled the alleged robber, a 42-year-old man, who was leaving a dairy near Marine Parade about 2pm.

He then phoned police.

Off-duty officer Constable Hannah O'Leary helped restrain the man until police arrived.

"It turned out they'd chased him all the way out there, tackled him and he [the fairy] ran out of steam," Constable O'Leary told Morning Report.

"He's not a very sizeable man and I think was battling a bit".

Senior Sergeant Kevin Stewart said police wanted to give "our pink fairy hero and his acquaintance a big pat on the back".

"We accept the pink uniform is rather effective and was popular with bystanders, but I think we'll be sticking to the blue."

He said there was a risk in members of the public getting involved, but the fairy's actions helped prevent the man getting away.

The 42-year-old will appear in Hastings District Court today charged with aggravated robbery.