Armed man on rampage in Northland

A man wielding knives and a hammer rampaged through a Northland town early today, before being overpowered by police using batons and pepper spray.

The 26-year-old local man smashed up cars and a shop window on Kawakawa's main shopping street before ending up in a standoff with four police officers who spent 30 minutes trying to persuade him to drop his weapons.

The violent spree began around 3.30am when a resident heard the window being smashed, confronted the man, and managed to take one weapon away, police said.

The police soon arrived at the scene, but the man refused to drop the remainder of his weapons, threatening police and the resident with two knives and a hammer.
The man also took off his pants while taunting police.

Northern police communications centre Inspector Scott Webb said he believed the man was under the influence of drugs.

Police later found a bag of knives and hammers nearby that were believed to be owned by the man.

The 26-year-old man was at the Kawakawa police station early today and was to face several charges.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)