An Auckland teenager is spending Christmas and New Year in jail on remand after allegedly leading police on a high speed pursuit in a stolen car from Kawakawa to Hikurangi.
Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the drama started about 4pm on Tuesday when a report was made to Kawakawa police that a car had been stolen from the town.
Police quickly got on the trail of the stolen car and when they tried to stop the vehicle the driver allegedly took off at speed south on State Highway One.
Ms Kennett said the fleeing vehicle allegedly reached speeds of up to 140km/h on SH1 and the driver refused to stop for pursuing officers who were displaying red and blue flashing lights and sounding their sirens.
About 20 minutes -- and 38 km -- after the pursuit started the car was stopped in George St, Hikurangi, and the driver and sole occupant fled on foot. However, police caught him a short time later and he was arrested.