The former partner of a Northland fugitive being hunted by police has made a heartfelt plea asking him to turn himself in.
Joshua Mason Kite has been on the run for almost a week, after allegedly shooting at police officers in Whangarei and fleeing in a stolen vehicle.
Chey Thomassen has a teenage daughter with Kite.
"Your daughter is crushed trying to be strong for you, every night wondering if you are eating, sleeping, if you are warm, if you love and miss her - but most of all, if you are alive," she wrote in a message to Kite.
She shared the message with Newshub in the hope that Kite will see it.
"Josh, you once said I didn't know what it was like for you locked up on your own, and what did I say? I did my own prison sentence out here, and now I'm doing it again - but this time our kids are old enough to know what's going on.
"Please, please don't do this to us again. Please show us you love us and care."
Kite is wanted on a parole recall warrant, and police consider him to be armed and dangerous.
In the message, Ms Thomassen also speaks of how Kite's disappearance is affecting other members of his family.
"Your mum, your dad and brothers don't need any more pain. We lost you for 10 years and if you don't come forward we might lose you forever.
"I love you Joshua, even after what has happened, so do your kids. Teach them what's right."
Police say Kite may be using his extensive criminal links across the North Island to avoid being caught.
They're focusing their search across Northland and greater Auckland.
"We will find you," said Detective Inspector Gary Lendrum on Tuesday. "Whether it's today, tomorrow - we won't stop looking."
Police arrested a 25-year-old woman on the weekend, charging her as an accessory for helping Kite escape.
"One of the messages I'd like to get through to people is that it is a criminal offence to assist people that are on the run," said Det Insp Lendrum.
Kite is described as being about 1.83m tall with brown curly hair.
Chey Thomassen's full message to Joshua Kite:
Josh u once said I didn't know what it was like for you locked up on your own n what did I say? I did my own prison sentence out here, and now I'm doing it again but this time our kids are old enough to understand what's going on. Your daughter is crushed trying to be strong for you, every night wondering if you are eating sleeping if you are warm, if you love and miss her but most of all if you are alive. Please please don't do this to us again please show us you love us n care. Your mum ur dad n brothers don't need any more pain we lost you for 10 years and if you don't come forward we might lose you forever I love you with all my heart as our daughter does ur her idol you know that show her the right way and that u love her and give urself up please before someone else or you get killed u can still b a dad and a loving partner now I will be here for you no matter what I don't hate you or am mad I'm sad that u felt you couldn't come to me before it got this far, I'm begging you in tears please I love you Joshua even after what has happened so do ur kids teach them what's right xxxx
Newshub.
