Found car sparks hunt for fugitive

Police were last night hunting a MidNorth man who sparked a major manhunt yesterday.

The search began when police spotted a car linked to a wanted man, sparking a pursuit on rural roads between Kaikohe and Moerewa about 11.30am.

Armed police sealed off the area and laid road spikes around Pokapu Rd, off tiria Rd, while an officer followed a hunch and fresh tyre tracks up a farm track off Davis Rd.

He found the ute police were searching for and two men, who then ran off into the bush.

An officer tried to follow with a tracking dog while members of the Armed Offenders Squad flew up on the Eagle helicopter.

The area is a mix of dense scrub and farmland, cut through by a large stream and the northern railway line.

Roadblocks were lifted just after 3.30pm when there was still no sign of the men.

Acting Senior Sergeant Pat Waters said inquiries were continuing.

Traffic initially unable to get through Pokapu Rd included a school van bringing Motatau School children home to Moerewa.

A kohanga reo at Matawaia was also affected.

It is the second time in a week ŌMotatau School has been affected by a fleeing offender.

About 4.25pm on Thursday a man with multiple arrest warrants was trying to get away from police when he crashed head-on into a Motatau School bus then fled on foot into scrub.

He was caught a short distance from the crash scene by a police dog.

There were no children on the bus at the time but the driver was badly shaken.