UPDATED 2.55PM: ‘Crazed idiot' is how one witness describes the motorist who led police on a dangerous chase through Tauranga overnight.

While another says they inadvertently came face-to-face with the driver of a black hatchback who was being pursued by up to 10 police cars as it drove with its headlights turned off and on the wrong side of Takitimu Drive at about 9pm.

Police were forced to abandon a pursuit of a black hatchback that was spotted driving with its headlights off and on the wrong side of Takitimu Drive on Friday at about 9pm. File Photo.

The witness, who's asked not to be named, says he and his family were travelling on the toll road section of Takitimu Drive towards The Lakes when a police car sped past them with their lights on.

As they approached the toll booths, they saw what they thought was the same police car travelling around the SH29 roundabout the wrong way.

'The missus said to me ‘what the hell is that cop doing' before a black car with no lights on came around the roundabout the wrong way also and ended up directly in front of us,” he says.

'Myself, the crims and the cop all came to a stop and looked at each other before the crims took off down the toll road the wrong way.

'Our kids, sitting in the back yelled out ‘cop chase' as another five or six cop cars took off chasing the black car. Looked just like an American chase there was so many flashing lights.”

A police spokesperson says the black hatchback had been spotted earlier on Friday night driving erratically.

'Police attempted to stop the vehicle a number of times,” says the spokesperson.

'There were two brief pursuits where police attempted to stop the vehicle but they were both abandoned due to concerns for the public.”

The black hatchback was also seen driving erratically by police on Elizabeth Street, Cambridge Road and Cameron Road.

While the other witness, who has also asked to remain anonymous, says they saw up to 10 police vehicles chasing the black hatchback down Takitimu Drive.

'The driver was just a crazed idiot, that or the best bloody driver in New Zealand,” the witness says.

'It was an extremely dangerous situation, it's amazing that the guy didn't crash into anyone else.”

At this stage police have not located the driver or the vehicle.

They are appealing to anyone who has any information or witnessed the incidents to contact their local police station.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.