KEY POINTS:
Police have released the name of a fugitive they are hunting following a firearms incident in Hutt Valley yesterday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Sears from Lower Hutt said police were seeking Matthew George Kidman, who is on bail for firearms offences and considered dangerous.
The search stems from an incident where police were called to a house in the suburb of Naenae at 2.30pm yesterday.
A man and woman known to the occupants turned up at the house and when the occupants said they would call police, the pair, who had a one-year-old girl the car with them, drove off.
A firearm seen in the car was later dumped at Taita Cemetery before the man headed into the hills.
The car was stopped by police as it left the cemetery and the woman driver was arrested and charged with being party to an offence. The child was unharmed and is now in care.
Mr Sears said today that Kidman had a number of associates who may be helping him.
"A warrant to arrest Kidman has been issued and should people be found to be helping him avoid police, they can expect to be arrested and charged with that," he said.
Mr Sears said Kidman was dangerous, had a number of convictions for violent offending and was on bail for other alleged firearms offending.
The armed offenders squad, dog handlers, a negotiation team, the Westpac helicopter and police patrols have been combing hills around Lower Hutt for Kidman.
He is described as Caucasian, 187cm tall, of thin build wearing a white top and dark pants.
- NZPA
