A Tauranga man threatened by a gunman in the city on Wednesday night handed over his car keys before "he went his way, I went the opposite way".
Nigel Baker was working late at a manufacturing plant when he heard a commotion. He went to investigate and found the man smashing his way into it.
The scene where a man shot at police following a pursuit in Tauranga. Photo: RNZ / Natalie Mankelow
“I didn't really know what was going on but I didn't think it was too good,” he said.
“He pulled a gun on me and demanded my car keys, which I promptly got for him, and he took off.”
The man had earlier led police on a chase after they received a complaint about 8.45pm about a vehicle on State Highway 2 near Katikati.
Spikes were used to stop the vehicle in Tauranga, and a gun was then fired at three officers, the spokesperson said.
A 32-year-old Auckland man has been arrested and will appear in Tauranga District Court on Thursday charged with using a firearm against a law enforcement officer. Other charges are expected to follow.