Three car chases happened in Northland overnight in the space of two hours after drivers refused to be pulled over.
Police say the first was around 12.30am on Western Hills Drive in Whangarei when a car didn't stop and continued on to Hikurangi, where it was later located.
The same vehicle again failed to stop and so police chased it to Waiomio Rd where the driver abandoned the car, leaving a passenger behind.
The 25-year-old driver was located by the police dog handler. He had been suspended from driving in the past, and was also on a 24 hour curfew to his previous offending.
Whilst police were dealing to this, reports of a stolen car from Marsden Point came through around 1.10am, and the vehicle was later located in Maungatapere where the driver also decided to take off.
The chase was abandoned however due to the safety of the public and staff and poor road conditions.
A Dargaville officer who had been assisting with this incident saw another vehicle towing a trailer without tail lights.
The officer attempted to stop the driver on Tangowahine Valley Road when that driver also fled in the vehicle, around 2.20am.
Police lost track of the driver but found them again, before the police vehicle slid off the gravel road and rolled onto its side.
The driver and the vehicle suffered minor damage.
The offending vehicle continued on and crashed through a farm gate before fleeing from the vehicle and into the bush.
The 21-year-old male was found 3 and half hours later by a police dog. He will face a charge of driving while disqualified.
Northland Police Maori Responsiveness Manager Acting Inspector Riki Whiu says those who flee from police put themselves and police in risk of injury or death.
"It's not good enough and the reasons these people are fleeing police are pathetic."
Mr Whiu says police can abandon chasing drivers if the risk to the public, themselves and the driver is greater.
"Drivers need to think twice before they take off. Yes there are penalties, but the consequences of these types of incidents are normally far worse, for us all."
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