Technology vs local knowledge as manhunt continues in Waikato

Technology is being pitted against local knowledge as a manhunt for a gang member continues in the northwest Waikato.

Police in helicopters are using hi-tech thermal imagery cameras as they scour rugged country south of Port Waikato for Kim Smith, the Outcasts gang member they want to talk to about the fatal shooting of Dwayne Andre Wilson at Waingaro last month.

Smith is also wanted on a raft of other charges, including aggravated robbery, serious violence, firearms and drugs offences.

But police are up against a fugitive they concede knows the area like the back of his hand.

Waikato police crime services manager, Inspector Pete Devoy, said Smith had hunted pigs in the area for years, "which gives him a certain tactical advantage in the steep rugged terrain".

Police from Hamilton and Auckland armed with M4 assault rifles have been scouring the sparsely populated hills since Sunday and sources say the elite Special Tactics Group had also been brought in.

On Monday they found a hastily abandoned hut in a pine forest.

In the hut were three semi-automatic firearms, including a shotgun, a Ruger 10-22 and a Heckler and Koch SL8 rifle, a civilian version of the German G36 assault rifle.

They also found a flak jacket, clothing, food and other equipment.

Police believe Smith left the hut in a hurry and yesterday confirmed they had found a woolshed where they believed he spent Tuesday night.

Mr Devoy said armed police were being used in the hunt because in earlier raids on properties where police thought Smith may have been they had found firearms.

Mr Devoy said Smith had changed his appearance since last month's shooting, dying his hair and goatee white.

With Smith on the run, a man who knew him as a child said "things went astray" when he went to Australia in his 20s.

Kaipo Flats, Onewhero, resident Tom McCoubrie knew Smith as a child and thought it was sad how he had turned out.

"He used to visit friends of ours and our kids played together. It was just a normal sort of interaction," he said.

Despite widespread media coverage and police warnings, some people were still unaware of the manhunt.

A surprised pair of pig hunters last night abandoned their hunt after learning about the police search for Smith.

Hoani Pomare said he worked shift work and hadn't heard about it.

Smith is considered dangerous and police expect him to be carrying a firearm.

- nzpa