Police were alerted to a 37-year-old man believed to be carrying a knife and possibly in possession of a firearm at his Parakao home about 8pm.The man was reported to have been in an agitated state.
The Northland Armed Offenders Squad (AOS), along with CIB and Public Safety Team (frontline) staff, went to the property.
While officers were placing cordons around the man's property, the man stole a quad bike from another address and rode off.
Police chased the man, who then abandoned the quad bike on farmland and ran off.AOS and the police dog handler started tracking the man through thick bush.
They found him in the bush area about 4am. The man has then stabbed the police dog Gus and then attempted to stab the dog handler.
After a struggle Police managed to subdue and arrest him.The man is in custody as police consider charges the man is likely to face.
Gus suffered a punctured lung and has been transported to Veterinary Services Group in Carrington, Auckland for specialist surgery. He is expected to recover from his injuries.
9am: A police dog has been flown to Auckland for emergency surgery after being stabbed during an armed offenders call out in Northland.
The police dog was taken to Whangarei Airport and flown south by police helicopter about 8.30am.
It's believed the incident happened about 4am today, near Whangarei.
We will update the story as police release more details.
