A man who attempled to rob a Foxton dairy this morning left the shop empty-handed, then led police on a high-speed chase.
He got into a stolen blue hatchback containing another man and they drove south on SH1 where they were seen by a police patrol car.
A pursuit commenced after the vehicle failed to stop for police and they drove off at speed, heading south.
Gerry Foxley, who was passing through Levin, witnessed the chase.
"I was just getting into my car at the Levin PostShop and, in the corner of my eye, I saw this car racing towards me. I felt a breeze as he zipped past at very high speed. He went right through the intersection at speed.