KEY POINTS:
Police are looking for two prisoners, one a convicted murderer, who escaped custody in Hamilton this morning.
The escapes were discovered at 5.30am when the men were found to be missing from Montgomery House in Anglesea Street, a residential programme in Hamilton.
Police said the escapees were Shaun Christopher Staples, a 30-year-old Maori, who is serving a life sentence for a murder in 1995, and 33-year-old John Mangaroa Poaka, also Maori, who is serving an eight-year sentence for aggravated robbery in 2001.
Both men are from Hastings and have connections to the Mongrel Mob gang.
Police said they are considered dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public.
- NZPA
