Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
A Porirua man has been arrested after fleeing police and allegedly stealing a member of the public's car.
In a statement, Inspector Renée Perkins said the man was driving in Waitangirua on Tuesday morning when he was signalled by police to stop.
Instead, the driver fled in a grey sedan, and continued driving onto State Highway 59 at Paremata where police stopped the pursuit because of the way the man was driving.
The driver continued north before being stopped by road spikes in Paekākāriki.
Near Kāpiti, Perkins said the driver got out of the sedan and took a blue saloon from a member of the public, before driving it south on Transmission Gully.
The man exited at Waitangirua and the car stopped by police on Champion Street in Porirua.
The 28-year-old alleged driver is now facing charges including failing to stop, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, failing to comply with conditions of a protection order, operating a motor vehicle recklessly, and robbery.
Perkins said police were "incredibly thankful no innocent members of the public were injured during this fast-moving situation".
An investigation was underway and police were seeking any footage from witnesses of the incident.
This included dash cam footage, or from cellphones and CCTV cameras.
"If you can assist the investigation, please contact us via our 105 service and quote the file number 240702/1114.
"Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."
The man was due to reappear in Porirua District Court on Wednesday.
