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Auckland Airport police staff feared for their safety after a man reversed a car into their vehicle before leading officers on a chaotic 28km chase through Auckland today.

Inspector Peter Raynes said the 28-year-old man was reported to be assaulting a woman known to him in a vehicle, parked in a shopping centre car park, at 12.55pm on Thursday.

“Airport police arrived in the area, as the vehicle concerned was leaving the area and conducted a traffic stop on George Bolt Memorial Drive. The female driver suffered minor injuries after exiting from the vehicle as it rolled back at slow speed,” Raynes said.

“The male passenger then moved into the driver’s seat and proceeded to reverse into the police vehicle, damaging it. Airport police staff exited their vehicle, while the offender has performed further reverse manoeuvres towards them.”

Raynes said those staff, who are routinely armed, “briefly presented a firearm fearing for their safety”.

The man then allegedly fled at speed, sparking a pursuit on the Southwestern Motorway that ended with his arrest in West Auckland’s Te Atatū Peninsula – a 28km journey that normally takes over 30 minutes to drive.

A witness told the Herald that the vehicle travelled slowly into Te Atatū Peninsula, followed by a line of police vehicles while the Police Eagle helicopter hovered overhead. Smoke could be seen coming from the car’s tyres that had been deflated.

Onlookers pulled out their phones filming as the slow pursuit travelled through the main shopping hub of the suburb.

One witness on social media said they counted 13 police cars pass them in Te Atatū during the pursuit.

A specialist dog team at the scene was searching the bush and route the offender fled. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“The vehicle travelled through the main shopping centre and turned onto Harbour View Rd, coming to a stop at the bottom near the beach before the man abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, being arrested on a nearby street,” another witness said.

“A specialist dog team at the scene was searching the bush and route the offender fled.”

They said police officers could be seen inspecting the vehicle’s plates, as fake plates had been printed and stuck over the original ones.

“Some loose cash dropped by the offender was recovered by officers, and drug-related materials were confiscated. The vehicle has since been towed.

Images from the scene where the pursuit ended on Harbour View Rd show wheels on the vehicle completely torn apart, and damage to its rear bumper and tail light. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“Three of the four wheels were punctured by police spike strips, which officers had successfully deployed. The vehicle also sustained damage to the side after it collided with another vehicle during the attempt to evade stopping.”

Images from the scene where the pursuit ended show wheels on the vehicle completely torn apart, and damage to its rear bumper and tail light.

Police said charges for the man are still being confirmed.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested on a nearby street after decamping on foot. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.