Three men are in custody after a police pursuit that lasted more than an hour in Waikato early this morning.

Police spotted a stolen car in Ngaruawahia shortly after midnight and signalled the driver to stop.

Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson says at one point the vehicle stopped and a man carrying a sawn-off rifle got out.

Officers continued pursuing the vehicle, which reached high speeds on rural roads.

It eventually crashed into a paddock near Te Hou and two other men were found and arrested.

Pete says the three men would appear in the Hamilton District Court today to face a variety of charges.

-RNZ