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Northland and Auckland police carrying firearms as officers 'throwing everything' into hunt for fugitive

New images of a Northland man who is considered "armed and dangerous" have been released by police today as they step-up their fight to find him.

Police say frontline officers in Northland and Auckland are carrying firearms as they try to locate Joshua Mason Kite.

Police have released this new image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.
Police have released this new image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.

"As per our policy, frontline officers in Northland and greater Auckland are carrying firearms as a safety precaution while the investigation is ongoing," Detective Inspector Kevin Burke said.

The 33-year-old, who is wanted on a parole recall warrant, allegedly crashed his car and fired at two chasing police officers in Kensington, in Whangarei, on Friday morning before fleeing in a vehicle he allegedly stole from two people.

Police searched a property at Kaiwaka on Sunday and cleared the property without finding Kite, who is believed to have links to the Wellington, Auckland and Northland areas.

Mr Burke today said police were "throwing everything" at trying to find the fugitive, who is being treated as armed and dangerous.

Police have released this new image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.
Police have released this new image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.

"We do know Mr Kite has extensive links across the North Island and we believe he may be trying to use those contacts to help him evade police," Mr Burke said.

“At this stage we are continuing to focus on the Northland and greater Auckland areas, and want to advise anyone who may be helping Mr Kite that assisting someone to evade Police is a crime in itself,” Mr Burke warned.

Staff from four districts, Northland, Waitemata, Auckland City and Counties Manukau, are looking for the Kite.

Police earlier released this image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.
Police earlier released this image of Joshua Mason Kite. Source: NZ Police.

Mr Burke said he wanted to thank the community for their ongoing support and information provided to police in relation to the search for Mr Kite.

"While we are advising people in Northland to go about their daily business as usual, we are still asking that anyone who sees someone behaving suspiciously or fitting Mr Kite’s description, to contact Police on 111 immediately or anonymously to 0800 555 111."

He said the two officers who were fired at by Mr Kite on Friday are back at work and have been receiving ongoing support from colleagues.

Kite is described as in his late 30s, about 183cm tall and with brown curly hair.

He was wearing a blue t-shirt with white writing and a brown zip up hoodie.