Police confident escaped prisoner still in NZ

Police hunting for escaped prisoner Kevin Polwart are confident he is still in New Zealand.

The convicted armed robber used an angle grinder to cut his way out of Auckland Prison at Paremoremo this week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby says Polwart will need help to avoid recapture, and police are working their way through a list of his friends and old criminal mates around Wellington.

Mr Libby says pictures of Polwart have been distributed widely, and it is only a matter of time before he will have to show his face. Me Libby says Polwart might be forced to sacrifice his large moustache if he ventures out in public.

- NEWSTALK