An armed man remains on the run tonight in the Far North after a fruitless search by the Armed Offenders Squad.
Armed police and dog handlers spent the evening hunting for the man who fled police in a high-speed chase before crashing his car and running away this afternoon.
Police earlier cordoned off part of State Highway 10 in the Far North as officers searched bush for the man who earlier fled officers.
They had tried to stop a car on Marsden Rd, Paihia shortly after 2.30pm after recognising a known offender in the car, a police statement said.
"The offender failed to stop and spikes were put in place. The car has since crashed and the driver and a passenger fled on foot."
The car is understood to have crashed off the road on SH10 between Pakaraka and Oromahoe Rd.
Police said one offender, understood to be the passenger, was arrested about 3.50pm and is in custody.
The second man, who has a warrant to arrest, is thought to have a gun. The Armed Offenders Squad and dog units were hunting for him.
The cordons have now been lifted and the squad stood down, but officers are continuing to make enquiries to find the man, police said.
A Northern Advocate reporter at the scene this afternoon said SH10 was blocked off by police in two places between Pakaraka and Oromahoe Rd and no traffic was being allowed through. Motorists were being diverted down Old Bay Rd.
The reporter said a police car had driven across farmland and up a small hill nearby with cellphone tower, and officers could be seen at the top of the hill.
Cordons were in place on SH1 at the intersection of SH10, Pakaraka and at SH10 at the intersection of Oromahoe Rd.
Police thanked the public for their cooperation and patience while they looked for the man.