Car set on fire after Northland kidnapping – Police believe vehicle may be related to police shooting

Northland police searching for two gunmen who opened fire on an officer this morning without being provoked are also actively investigating a kidnapping near Waipapa last night.

The police officer is lucky to be alive after the early morning incident in the Far North, which forced the closure of State Highway 11.

Officers are now working to identify and locate the vehicle and the men involved in this morning’s shooting.

Detective Inspector Dene Begbie, Northland’s manager of investigations, says police are also investigating a car hijacking and arson incident reported near Waipapa last night.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident after the male victim of the reported kidnapping approached a Matauri Bay property asking for help.

“Fortunately, this man was not seriously injured during the incident and he is speaking with us to determine a full set of circumstances.

“The police have located a vehicle of interest to this investigation,” Begbie said.

“This vehicle, a gray 2010 Nissan Skyline, caught fire on Puketotara Rd near Okaihau at around 4.50 am.

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The Armed Criminal Squad was dispatched to the Matauri Bay area because of the seriousness with which the police are dealing with these matters, Begbie said.

“We are still working to establish whether the vehicle involved in the hijacking matter was the same vehicle used in the State Highway 11 incident.”

“Both occupants who came out are believed to be men, masked and solidly built.”

Police believe the vehicle involved was a silver or gray sedan, Begbie said.

“Since we are still establishing the circumstances of this incident, the police are limited to making further comments at this stage,” Begbie said.

Meanwhile, the officer who was shot in the early hours of this morning was receiving support.

“They are understandably shocked by the incident and I commend the actions this officer took to ensure his own safety,” Begbie said.

Police say that around 4.13 a.m. today, a car pulled up in front of a police vehicle and stopped in the middle of the road on State Highway 11 near the junction of Puketona with State Highway 10.

Before the officer could get out of the patrol, two men got out of his car and pointed guns at him.

The officer immediately withdrew, but a shot was fired at the vehicle, smashing the windshield.

The officer was not injured and quickly left the scene and called for reinforcements.

“This type of incident is totally unacceptable and concerns both the police and our community,” said Begbie.

“I would like to assure the Far North community that we are taking this matter seriously and that we have a determined team of investigators working to hold those involved to account.”

Anyone with information or sightings of the Nissan Skyline with registration MWD839 should contact the Kerikeri Police at 105.

Alternatively, the information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.