Police seeking further sighting of armed drug-user

William (Wiremu) Morris

Police today urged the public to report any further sightings of an armed drug-user whom they have described as desperate and dangerous.

The focus of the hunt for William (Wiremu) Morris has returned to Auckland, with police heading to a property in west Auckland yesterday.

"We went to an address in Lincoln Rd, where he was sighted, but he had left when we got there," police spokeswoman Philippa White said.

"We are confident he is still in Auckland."

She said a sighting of Morris at the Mangonui Fish Shop in Northland on Friday had been deemed "a red herring".

A silver Mazda Capella that Morris was thought to have driven off in from the food outlet had been discounted from the inquiry.

"But certainly any reports from the public that they have seen him will be followed up," Ms White said.

"It's important they keep coming in."

Morris, who has a full facial moko, is wanted on charges including kidnapping, threatening to kill, vehicle theft, intimidation, serious assaults and firearms offences.

He has been sought by police for some time.

However, the search escalated over the past week after he threatened people in a west Auckland house with a shotgun and discharged a firearm in the Auckland suburb of Avondale.

Police say he is a user of the drug P and they urged anyone with information to contact them at Henderson station on (09) 839-0600.

- NZPA