The extensive search for an alleged gunman who shot at two police officers in Northland has now spread to Auckland.
The incident early on Friday morning left residents in Kaiwaka scared and police still don't know exactly where the offender may be.
Early on Friday morning the manhunt began when police tried to stop a car on Bank Street in Whangarei. But the man driving the car shot at the officers took their patrol car.
The gunman crashed the police car later in a nearby suburb of Whangarei and hijacked another car, forcing its two occupants out at gunpoint.
The hijacked car was later found near the Northland rural town of Maungaturoto.
Police have lifted the cordons around Maungaturoto while they search for the armed man who is believed to be on the run in the area.
Inspector Al Symonds says the higher police presence will stay while they continue to look for the man.
"We would also suggest - people in that area - today would not be the best day to pick up hitch-hikers. Be a bit judicious in who you pick up in your car."
Detective Inspector Kevin Burke says police from Waitemata, Auckland City and Counties Manukau have joined the hunt for the man still believed to have a firearm with him.
He says while the situation "remains fluid", they're now making enquiries in the greater Auckland area.
They're still talking to people in Northland and are building a better picture of who the man might be.
Det Insp Burke ensured the public they're "doing everything we can to locate him and resolve the situation without anyone getting hurt".
The best description of the man so far is that he's possibly in his late 30s, up to 183cm tall with brown curly hair.
He was wearing a blue t-shirt with white writing and a brown zip up hoodie.
Kaiwaka resident Janine says people kept their kids home from school.
"It's got people quite frightened, we're quite a close-knit, small community and we don't normally have this sort of thing happening."
Many businesses in Kaiwaka decided to close until the man was caught.
There's a large number of police hunting the gunman in Kaiwaka (Tim Raethel / Newshub.)
On Facebook, Whangarei resident Mikaere Ranigmarie wrote: "Police chase an the mans car crashed in front of my house & then pulled a gun out on the police an then took off in the cop car. [sic]"
Police are asking for members of the public to call 111 immediately if they see any suspicious behaviour or anybody fitting the description.
Newshub.
