Hunt for gunman goes national

Rollie Heke is wanted by police in connection with a shooting in the Waikato on Sunday. File photo.

The manhunt for Rollie Heke, who is accused of firing at police officers in Morrinsville early Sunday morning, has gone national.

A national operation to locate Heke is being managed out of Police National Headquarters in Wellington, while investigators in the Waikato district will focus on the events of August 13.

Detective Superintendent Chris Page says this will allow the best use of the considerable expertise police have available to be utilised, and ensure the effective coordination across all police districts.

'Police have the sense Heke is no longer in the Morrinsville area and is being assisted by associates to avoid police,” says Chris.

'For this reason we are coordinating the search for him on a national basis.”

Heke is well-known in criminal circles right across the North Island and police will be actively visiting and questioning people associated to him.

'We remind these people that they could find themselves facing charges if there is evidence they are assisting Heke to avoid police.

'As you now know, Heke is considered extremely dangerous and should not be approached.

'He is also known to commit acts of violence against associates, so those who may be assisting him should consider not only the police attention focused on them, but also their own safety.”

Chris urges Heke to listen to his family and make contact with us.

'Police are dedicating significant resources to apprehend Heke with a large team of police working across the North Island.

'Police are in the process of setting up a dedicated hotline number for the public to call with information. In the meantime the public can call 111 or their local police station.”

He says the information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

'We know information and assistance from the public is the key to locating and apprehending Heke. We encourage anyone with any information on his whereabouts, no matter how small, to come forward.”

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