11-year-old driver flees from police in Auckland

The 11-year-old was chased by police after he'd been spotted driving 'erratically'. Photo / Getty Images

Child Youth and Family will not comment on how an 11-year-old boy in their care ended up leading police in a high-speed vehicle chase through Papakura overnight.

The boy was caught by police behind the wheel of a car around midnight after the chase.

Senior Sergeant Stephen Richards of Counties Manukau police said the boy drove of speeds up to 120 km/h for about two minutes before stopping.

The boy's 14-year-old passenger fled but was found an hour later.

The driver was spoken to by police at the scene.

In a statement this morning CYF clarified that the boy was cared for in a community placement, not a secure unit, but would not say any more because it was a matter for the police.

Police later said a Manurewa police patrol was alerted about 12.05am to a vehicle performing a "sustained loss of traction manoeuvre".

After police attempted to pull the car over it fled, resulting in the pursuit.

It stopped a short time later.

Both the driver and the passenger were still being spoken to by police.