Carjackers in city pursuit

The stolen car is towed away. Photo / Janna Dixon

A weekend golfer was carjacked by three armed people, who led police on a high-speed chase through some of Auckland's busiest shopping streets yesterday.

The drama unfolded just after 8am, as Whangaparaoa man Peter Braithwaite unloaded his golf clubs at the Peninsula Golf Club.

A man, believed to have been armed with a screwdriver or knife, demanded the keys to his 2005 black Holden Commodore.

"I gave them the keys and got out of there," said Braithwaite. "I felt pretty threatened, I can assure you."

The armed man, along with another man and woman, had arrived in the golf club carpark in another stolen car. All three were wearing bandannas.

Police Inspector Chris Robinson said the stolen car was driven 40km into central Auckland via the Northern Motorway.

Police tailed the car along the motorway but did not start a pursuit until it took the Gillies Ave exit and headed through Broadway Newmarket.

The car, reaching speeds of 120km/h during the chase, shot through the area that was already starting to fill with Saturday morning shoppers.

Aucklander Brian Pethica said he saw the car run a red light at the Parnell Rd intersection. He then saw the car take a right turn and shoot down St Georges Bay Rd.

"Then the police cars came zooming down, initially they went down Parnell Rise. I just had both my hands out [the window] pointing them to where to go."

Pethica said there were "at least five" police cars in the pursuit.

The trio abandoned the car at the bottom of St Georges Bay Rd when they realised it was a no-exit street.

Detective senior sergeant Cam Moore said the trio tried to flee on foot but all were arrested, including a man and a woman who tried to cut through the La Cigale French Market.

Moore said assistance from shoppers helped them identify the pair.

The third was caught leaping across properties.

Moore declined to confirm the nature of the weapon except to say it was "makeshift".

He said all three were from Northland and aged in their early 20s.

The car was towed away for police examination. Two of the tyres were shredded after the car crashed into a kerb.

The trio face charges of aggravated robbery.

The three offenders used a vehicle they allegedly stole from a Papakura man holidaying in Paihia on Wednesday night.

The attack left Braithwaite, a company director, shaken and sad. "I just don't think this is a picture of New Zealand - I hope."