Hostage drama in Auckland

A car was hijacked with its passengers inside and chased by police through west Auckland in a dramatic high-speed chase this morning.

Shots were fired from the hijacked car as the armed offender squad pursued it before the chase was brought to an end about an hour later on the Northwestern motorway when the car collided with a pole.

Dozens of police were involved in the incident which began in the St Lukes area when at least one shot was fired around 9.30am.

Police have now confirmed that three members of the public were effectively taken hostage when their car was hijacked.

St John Ambulance took two men, understood to members of the public, to Auckland hospital in a moderate condition. The two were believed to be the shocked unwilling participants in the chase.

The citybound lane east of Lincoln was closed for some time following the incident and caused traffic problems on the roads connecting to the Northwestern motorway between Westgate and Te Atatu.

- Newstalk ZB and NZ Herald