Man uses wigs to dodge police for six months

Wanted man Barney Te Hau, 38, has been using wigs and other disguises to dodge police for the past six months. Photo / NZ Police

A Mongrel Mob member with an extensive criminal history is using a number of disguises, including a blonde hairpiece, to dodge police.

The disguises appear to be working for Barney Te Hau, 39, who has been on the run from police since 22 March 2017.

The patched gang member disappeared from his bail address and then failed to turn up for his court appearance at Morrinsville District Court on a charge for contravening a protection order.

Since then he has been involved in a number of offences, including three family harm offences, burglaries, stealing motor vehicles and a police pursuit in Morrinsville on April 30.

Detective Sergeant Will Loughrin said police believed he had been using disguises to avoid being caught - and this included wearing blonde wigs.

"At this stage all we can confirm is a hairpiece, but he could be using an array of different disguises - we just don't know what else they could be."

Te Hau is described as Maori, 180cm in height and of a solid build with a number of tattoos on his left arm including the word "Hell" on his left wrist.

Te Hau was believed to be in the Waikato and had strong links to Morrinsville, Matamata and Te Awamutu.

People close to him appeared to be helping him avoid police, but Loughrin warned they could also face prosecution.

This is not the first time Te Hau has been on the run from police. In 2013, police launched a manhunt for him after they believed he was the driver of a stolen Subaru station wagon that rammed a patrol car in the Coromandel.

He is considered armed and dangerous and any one with any information about his whereabouts should not approach him, but contact the officer in charge, Detective Sergeant Will Loughrin, directly on 021 190 2963, or anonymously on Crimestoppers, 0800 555 111.