Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Nine teenagers have been arrested after four the vehicles they were travelling in were found to be stolen.
The vehicles were travelling in a convoy across Auckland in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Police describe it as "brazen and dangerous behaviour".
A ute stolen from Papakura travelled north on the Southern Motorway at 2.38pm and spotted by the Eagle helicopter in Ellerslie.
"The ute was travelling in convoy with three other vehicles that have since been confirmed as stolen," Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Ross Ellwood said.
"All four vehicles were being driven at dangerous speeds, despite not being pursued by any police units on the ground."
The convoy took the Southern Motorway exit at Mount Wellington and stopped on Commissariat Road.
People inside tow of the vehicles got out and into the other two vehicles and travelled to the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway where they were spiked.
Both vehicles stopped nearby and were abandoned.
Four people were taken into custody and five fled on foot but were tracked down by the dog unit at a nearby address.
"The nine people arrested were aged between 14 and 19."
A 19-year-old male is scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court today facing charges of possessing instruments for conversion and unlawfully getting into a vehicle.
The eight young people have been referred youth aid.