A seven-year-old Japanese girl mauled by four dogs in the yard of a Murupara property this week was bitten more than 100 times.

Her medical team today told media at a press conference that Sakurako Uehara suffered more than 100 bites all over her body in an attack by four Staffordshire bull terrier-cross dogs.

Sakurako Uehara was mauled by four dogs in Murupara. Video courtesy of Stuff.co.nz

Her plastic surgeon, Dr Zac Moaveni, described the attack as 'horrific and sustained”. He said Sakurako would have been conscious throughout the attack and the medical process afterwards.

"I don't think any of us were prepared for what we were going to see," he said.

Sakurako received extensive injuries to her face and all four limbs, which left her fighting for her life.

Now, doctors are working on cleaning and 'debriding” the wounds before reconstructive efforts can be undertaken on parts of her body. Sakurako is expected to need reconstructive procedures until she reaches adulthood.

The seven-year-old was playing in the backyard of family friend's property on Monday when she was mauled by the dogs. She was taken to Murupara Medical Centre before being transferred to Rotorua Hospital and airlifted to Middlemore, where she remains in a stable condition.

Her family said in a statement they want to thank the driver of a red car who helped immediately after the attack.

They said they are grateful for the support since they attack, from both the community, and medical staff.

The family had just moved to NZ from Japan earlier this year, and said they were a small family working in the food industry.