A dramatic weekend police pursuit in Taranaki was allegedly started when a man travelling from Hawke's Bay breached a Covid checkpoint into the region.
The 26-year-old was taken into custody near Urenui in north Taranaki about midday on Saturday, 45 minutes after the failing to stop for a checkpoint in Mōkau.
A police spokeswoman said the driver was believed to have travelled to Taranaki on the morning of the breach from Hawke's Bay, via Taupō.
A pursuit began and spikes were laid on the road. The driver of the car hit the spikes, at which time the driver drove "towards an officer", she said.
"The vehicle suffered damage to at least one tyre during the spiking but continued driving south."