Notorious criminal on the run in Hutt Valley

Notorious criminal Mathew Kidman has been known to be in possession of firearms. Photo / Supplied

• 2004: Kidman walks away from prison workshop while serving six-year sentence
• 2008: Kidman at centre of two-day manhunt, while on bail, after firearms incident
• 2016: Kidman breaches electronically monitored bail

He has spent the past decade escaping from prison, from court and even won a handsome payout from the Government -- and now one of New Zealand's most prolific absconders was on electronic bail, not home detention.

Three days ago notorious criminal Mathew Kidman left a Wellington address where he was on electronic bail and police are now on the hunt for the man they describe as dangerous and not to be approached.

The 35-year-old has a string of robbery and firearms offences stretching over the past decade.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he disappeared on Friday.

Kidman is described as a European of slim build and 187cm tall.

Due to his extensive criminal history, which involves firearms, police want people to contact them on 111 with any sightings.

He previously served time for aggravated robbery and has more than 70 past convictions, including firearms, drug and violence offences.

In 2005, Kidman was one of five prisoners awarded $8000 compensation in a court action for being held illegally under the "behaviour management regime" for difficult prisoners at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo.

In 2008, Kidman was at the centre of a two-day, armed police manhunt throughout the Hutt Valley after he was seen with a firearm visiting a house in the Wellington suburb of Naenae.

Over 48 hours he criss-crossed the valley, including surrounding hills, even using a cart used to pick up golf balls to evade capture.

He was on bail for firearms charges at the time and after that incident faced fresh firearms charges.

In 2004, Kidman walked away from the Hawkes Bay Regional Prison joinery workshop while serving a six-year sentence for aggravated robbery.

He made another escape bid from Hutt Valley District Court in 2012 when he kicked through a glass barrier to escape an interview room.

Police are asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Kidman to call Detective Sergeant Mike Fischer of the Hutt Valley Tactical Crime Unit on (04) 560 2600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.