Joshua Kite admits shooting at Whangarei cops and taking cars

The car Joshua Kite crashed on Kamo Rd after a police pursuit. Photo/John Stone

A man has admitted shooting at three Whangarei police officers and unlawfully taking two cars, including a police vehicle.

Joshua Kite, 35, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court to three charges of using a firearm against police - one female and two male officers - relating to an incident on August 26 last year.

Other charges relating to the same date are two of kidnapping, and impersonating a police officer.

There are two additional charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, including a $50,000 police patrol car.

His offending began at 12.43am on August 26, last year when police tried to stop Kite who was driving along Bank St in central Whangarei.

He fled and after a short pursuit crashed on Kamo Rd, outside Newberry's Funeral Home. It was then the shot was fired at the officers, who ducked for cover.

An unmarked police patrol vehicle was then stolen by Kite, who drove south, stopped two people in another vehicle near Raumanga Valley Rd and ordered them to get out before driving off in their car.

He then ditched that car in Maungaturoto and was later sighted in Kaiwaka.

Maungaturoto went into lockdown and cordons were put in place after the vehicle was found abandoned on Bickerstaffe Rd. The cordons were later removed after Kite was spotted in Kaiwaka.

Two days later, police swooped on a house north of Kaiwaka with a search warrant but did not find Kite.

He was arrested on September 1 last year after search warrants were carried out in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa.

A woman was subsequently charged with helping Kite avoid arrest.

He appeared in court after a prolonged remand in custody.