Police shoot man in chest after car chase

A man has been shot by police after a dramatic police chase between Rotorua and Waihi.

The man was a front seat passenger in a van which had been followed by police in connection with a burglary in Ngongotaha about 12.30pm yesterday. The man had shot at police, hitting a police car, during the chase.

Firearms and the van were taken from the Landscape Dr house.

The vehicle had been followed from Tauranga Direct Rd, through Tauranga and towards Katikati via State Highway 2 before being forced to stop in Waihi.

The man was shot in the torso after pointing his weapon at police.

The 19-year-old, described as a slim Caucasian man, underwent surgery for chest injuries and was in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital under police guard last night.

Police were this morning unable to confirm his identity or where he was from.

The Ngongotaha owner of the van said he had no idea who the burglars were.

His wife told the Daily Post this morning they had been following the events unfold in the media.

She expected to hear more from police today. The couple's van was damaged during the chase.

A bomb squad from Auckland has been at Waihi searching the van and has removed several items considered "of interest".

Waikato police district communications manager Andrew McAlley said police were today trying to establish if the van's female driver was a hostage or a willing participant.

The man shooting at police had also made contact with police during the chase but Mr McAlley did not know what was said.

"He was in contact with the police northern communication [centre]," Mr McAlley said.

Acting eastern Waikato Area Commander Inspector John Kelly said dog handlers, police and armed offenders squad members from Rotorua and Tauranga were involved in the chase. An armed offenders car lost control in wet driving conditions and those officers were picked up by another vehicle and rejoined the pursuit.

Mr Kelly said the man then started pointing a firearm at officers.

"West of Waihi the offender has then fired at police with a round impacting in the bonnet of the following Greerton incident car," Mr Kelly said.

The chase continued into Waihi. Road diversions were set up and road spikes were put out to stop the van as it turned off State Highway 2 on to Gilmore Rd. The driver refused to stop despite the van having two flat tyres.

Two more shots were fired at police before it came to a stop in Seddon St.

"The van has been guided on to a grass verge and then collided head on with a tree."

The man then got out of the van and pointed his weapon at the officers. He was shot in the torso and given first aid by police.

He was taken to Paeroa by ambulance before being flown to Waikato Hospital by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance Helicopter.

Waihi Beach resident David Lemon was about 150m away from where the accident happened shortly before 3pm.

He saw a man jump out of the van and point the gun directly at police.

He heard a "pop" sound and the man "went down".

He believed there were at least 12 police cars involved.

The crash scene was likely to be cordoned off until at least this morning.

A full police internal investigation would be carried out.