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Police were forced to crash into a car they had been chasing for nearly an hour after it ploughed through a park full of families.
The chase started at 3pm yesterday just north of Thames after police tried unsuccessfully to pull over a car that had plates that didn't match the make and model.
Eastern Waikato area commander Inspector Glenn Dunbier said the two patrol cars followed the red Alfa Romeo as it headed north and turned into the Tapu-Coroglen road.
The car, which had four men in it, then headed south towards Tairua.
Mr Dunbier said speeds were much within the limit throughout most of the chase but the manner of driving became dangerous heading into Tairua.
"They crashed into a vehicle [parked on the side of the road] but kept going. At that point the police car was next to it and they rammed that police car."
The car headed to the town's south end where the way out, a one-way bridge, was blocked by patrol cars.
Instead of stopping the Alfa headed into a reserve full of about 50 people, including children on a playground.
"They drove at speed through the playground, hitting another vehicle with no occupants in it. At that point one of my officers made the decision, once they were free of the crowd, to stop the vehicle by using his patrol car."
The chase had covered about 60km by the time the Alfa was brought to a stop after being hit by the patrol car. The four occupants were arrested.
Mr Dunbier said: "At that point they were speeding beyond the limit. They were driving in a manner that caused us considerable concern and I think my staff member made a brave and split second decision to stop them from driving back through the crowd and potentially killing someone."
No one was injured in the collisions but some damage was caused to the cars that were hit, including the two patrol cars.
The driver, a Thames man, will appear in Hamilton District Court today facing a raft of driving charges.
