Sergeant Phil Le Comte, of Mid North police, said cordons were set up around the area and tracking dogs and the police Eagle helicopter were brought in.
However, the man managed to evade police and the search was eventually called off.
Le Comte said he remained at large, ''offending and posing a significant risk to the community''.
He urged anyone with information about Carrington's whereabouts to contact police.
Anyone who saw him should not approach him but should call 111 immediately.
Witnesses told the Advocate they saw the police helicopter circling over Waitangi for at least half an hour.
Thursday night's fugitive is thought to be the same man who sparked a major police search in bush and farmland off Pokapu Rd, near Moerewa, on September 21.
Dogs, a helicopter and the Whangārei-based Armed Offenders Squad were deployed on that occasion.
