A Bay of Plenty police officer had to shoot dead one of three dogs set on him by a man he was pursuing last night, police say.
Police tried to arrest a man in the Kaingaroa Forest township near Murupara just before 8pm.
Senior Sergeant Mal Collins said the man released three dogs, one of which bit an officer several times.
The call was made to shoot it in self-defence and the dog was killed.
The man ran off with the other two dogs and was still at large, police said.
Two more dogs remained in the car the man had been driving when he was stopped by officers.
The bitten officer has been treated for his wounds.
Police are still searching for the man, who was known to them.