UPDATE: CCTV footage of the robbery of the Aussie Butcher in Gate Pa in which a worker was threatened with a butcher's knife has been released by the store's owner.

Aussie Butcher owner John van Bommel says his employee is back at work today after being attacked by a robber who broke into the butchery about 7am and threatened to stab the worker.

Footage from the robbery at the Gate Pa Shopping Centre early Sunday morning.

'He's really, really good. He's back at work. My worker is awesome. He refuses to be affected by some mongrel robbing us.”

John didn't want to give any further details about the incident at his Gate Pa shopping centre business.

Police say the lone worker was setting up for the day and uncovering meat at the front of the shop when a man entered through the backdoor of the butchery and grabbed a 20cm-blad butchers knife.

He approached the worker and threatened him making stabbing motions at the employee's neck while demanding the cash till and access to the store's safe, said Tauranga Police Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell.

The employee handed over the till and opened the safe, before the offender ran out the back door and into the service lane.

Police are still seeking the alleged offender, who is described as a thin maori man, in his late 20s, and about 5ft 8inches tall. He is reported to have been seen wearing a black beanie, dark coloured jacket or hoody and a red scarf over his face.

John says the butchery has been robbed before 'years ago”, but didn't want to give any further details.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner says police have no further updates on the incident.

'[We are] looking for and reviewing CCTV footage from the area to see if we can get images of the offender.”

If members of the public know who the alleged offender is, or have more information relating to the robbery, contact officer in charge Detective Sergeant Schrafft at Tauranga Police on 07 5774300.

Information can be provided anonymously at Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.