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Police believe a convicted murderer who escaped from Wellington Prison this morning has left the Mirimar peninsula.
Armed police, army helicopters and police dogs have been involved in the hunt for John Frederick Ericson, 45, who escaped from a work detail outside Wellington Prison, Mapuia, sometime between 11am and midday.
Ericson was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife while she slept in her bed, on July 31 2000.
He bludgeoned her 22 times with a hatchet in the back of her head. In court, he admitted responsibility for the attack but said he had no recollection of it.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell, Wellington CIB, said police had cleared the northern tip of the Mirimar peninsula with no indication that Ericson was still in that area.
Cordons around the area have been lifted and armed police stood down, he said.
"We're still asking people to keep an eye out for Ericson and to report any suspicious behaviour or sightings of him to police."
Mr Borrell earlier said the armed response was a precautionary measure due to the violent nature of Ericson's conviction.
"There is nothing to indicate he is armed but we can't afford to take any risks," he said.
The police maritime unit also joined the hunt for Ericson.
Ericson, who also has contacts in Auckland and Blenheim, is a Caucasian, approximately 1.8m tall of medium build, clean shaven with grey hair.
Police said he was wearing prison grey trackpants with the letters WRP on the side, a grey sweatshirt top, and black work boots.
-NZ HERALD STAFF
