Police catch escaped prisoner

A prisoner who escaped yesterday from a prison van has been caught.

Michael Taui Wetere, 26, was arrested near Kaikoura at about 3.30pm after absconding as the van travelled between Nelson and Christchurch.

Wetere kicked his way through two locked doors. When escort staff stopped the vehicle to investigate, and opened the exterior door, he ran off.

He will appear in Blenheim District Court today.