Hamilton police are not ruling out the possibility that an armed gang member they are hunting has fled the city.
Colin Kiriona, 25, accused of assaulting his 31-year-old estranged partner over a 48-hour period until she managed to escape on Wednesday night.
Police say Mr Kiriona is a frequent methamphetamine user and is known to be armed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton says a number of possible local sightings overnight on Thursday are being followed up, but at the same time police are keeping an open mind about his whereabouts.
Mr Thornton says Mr Kiriona is considered extremely dangerous and shouldn't be approached.
Police cordoned off a street in the suburb or Nawton on Thursday, after receiving information Mr Kiriona was there, and say they found Mr Kiriona's car and an air rifle at the property.
He is described as Maori of medium build, about 175cm tall, with a large bulldog tattoo on the left side of his face, and is believed to have a new tattoo on his forehead.