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The hunt for convicted murderer Graeme Burton continues as the Government seeks answers about the decision to grant him parole.
Police have repeated calls asking people to report sightings of Burton, who is on the run and considered armed and dangerous.
Sightings investigated yesterday turned out to be false alarms.
"We don't know where he is at the moment," admitted Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter.
Burton, a convicted murderer and burglar, is wanted for breaching parole.
Police also want to speak to him about a vicious assault in Wellington this week and the discovery of weapons, including four firearms and an assortment of batons and knives.
Burton was serving a life sentence when he was released on life parole in July. He breached conditions in December and has been on the run since.
A friend of Paul Anderson, the man Burton murdered in 1992, lamented the fact that Burton had been released from prison only to perhaps re-offend.
"Everybody gets out, and most of them re-offend," said Sean Murie, who owned the Wellington nightclub where Mr Anderson was killed.
Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor has asked for a report into Burton's parole, which should be completed shortly, duty minister Ruth Dyson said.
"It is obviously of considerable concern that an armed and dangerous man is on the run," Ms Dyson said.
National's law and order spokesman Simon Power said: "There appears to have been a clear failure to monitor this convicted murderer despite a recommendation that he be subject to close supervision.
"[Mr O'Connor] should immediately be looking to find out where the system has let us down and that information should be released now.
"As a result, police are again being forced to devote significant resources to catching a notorious prison escaper."
Mr Power says National has a policy of no parole for repeat violent offenders.
Meanwhile, Paul Connelly, who Burton and another man allegedly bashed on Wednesday, has been let out of hospital.
"He's still very sore with broken bones, cuts and bruises, and he's coping as best he can in that condition," Mr Cotter said.
