Police believe fugitive 'growing cannabis on run'

William Stewart. Photo / Supplied

Police believe elusive fugitive William Stewart may have been growing cannabis while on the run.

A recent police raid on a property in Halswell, on the outskirts of Christchurch, netted cannabis plants, weapons, more drugs and other stolen goods, The Press reported today.

Detective Sergeant John Rae said Stewart, 47, had been living on and off at the property for some months up to and during the now three-month manhunt.

Police found marijuana growing, a pipe containing what was thought to be P (methamphetamine), and a rifle.

Stewart, 47, has been evading police since last October after refusing to be recalled to prison for breach of parole.

The hunt began in earnest when he avoided arrest after threatening a police officer with a metal bar in February.

He has dodged police attempts to nab him in wide areas of Canterbury.

Mr Rae said Stewart had been "pretty busy" with burglaries while on the run.

"He's obviously committing more thefts than we are getting reports of."

A ute Stewart was thought to have stolen was recovered from a blackberry thicket on Friday, with kitchen knives and a plastic container full of cake inside.

- NZPA