Man tasered after attack on police

File photo / Roger Moroney

A man has been shot with a taser and sprayed with pepper spray after he attacked police with a spiked metal bar this morning.

The man had been shadowed by a police helicopter for nearly half and hour as he sped through Auckland in a stolen car.

When he finally dumped the car in Onehunga, leaving a loaded gun behind, he used the metal bar to attack police who tried to apprehend him.

Inspector Matt Rogers from the police Northern Communications Centre in Auckland, said the drama began after the man was seen driving in an unsafe manner at Greenhithe on the North Shore.

Police did not chase the man but left the police helicopter to watch him from the air, Mr Rogers said.

"The police units were listening to the helicopter and trailing along behind at a distance."

Mr Rogers said the man "drove like an idiot, very very unsafe.

"He was going through red lights, going through road works, a roundabout the wrong way..."

He said the man was sprayed with pepper spray and shot with a taser gun when he attacked police and went down to the ground.

He was due to face a range of charges and was expected to appear in court today.

- NZPA