Six teenagers arrested after 10-minute police chase during city's rush hour

Police arrest six teenaged girls involved in a pursuit that ended with a head-on collision with a police car. Photo / Supplied

Six South Auckland teenage girls in an allegedly stolen car were involved in a head-on collision with a police car after a 10-minute pursuit in Whangarei.

The girls, aged between 14 and 16, came to a halt in central Whangarei during rush hour on Tuesday when a white station wagon and an unmarked police car collided head-on on Porowini Ave about 5.15pm.

Officers arrested the girls and spent most of Tuesday evening organising parents and caregivers to collect them from Whangarei police station.

Child Youth and family were also involved.

Two of the girls were charged and will go through the Youth Court. The other four will be dealt with by police youth services.

Road policing Inspector Wayne Ewers said Northland police had Auckland colleagues told them a stolen car was northbound.

Police spotted the vehicle just south of Whangarei but the driver would not stop, and headed to Whangarei, driving through Morningside and onto Porowini Ave.

Ewers said heavy traffic impeded the girls' escape. The car continued along Porowini Ave but collided with the police car.

The police car's airbags inflated but the driver was not injured. However, it is thought the police car, estimated to be worth $50,000, will be written off.

The six teenagers were arrested quickly.

"It was lucky no one else was involved given the heavy traffic at the time," Ewers said.

He said it was likely the girls' cases would be dealt with in Auckland.