Ruairi Kern Taylor (24) appeared before Judge Michael Crosbie yesterday in the Dunedin District Court, charged with assault using a weapon - a tomahawk - and driving recklessly on State Highway 1 at Allanton.
The victim of the alleged assault, a police constable, has interim name suppression.
A police spokeswoman said the officer was taken to hospital as a precaution but was not injured.
Taylor did not seek bail and was remanded in custody by consent.
He will next appear in two weeks.
The incident, on State Highway 1 near Henley, south of Allanton, unfolded just before 6.30pm on Wednesday.
Police earlier said the man crashed his car into a patrol vehicle, then approached an officer in a threatening manner before his arrest.
Footage from the scene shows a variety of damage to the police car, including a smashed window and what appear to be indents from an axe.
The man's vehicle itself ended up with significant damage, and appeared to have rammed the back of the highway patrol car.
Police would not confirm if the officer was attacked or injured, nor whether he had radioed in the "10-10" code, meaning an officer required immediate assistance.
There was also no word on how police managed to effect the arrest.
