A manhunt is underway for an "armed and dangerous'' man who shot at a police officer from close range in Auckland early this morning.
A 40-year-old officer escaped with burns after being fired on in the city centre about 1am.
The shooting occurred when he saw suspicious activity inside a white Toyota Altezza he pulled over on Mayoral Drive, close to the main city police station.
He was taking the car keys off the woman driver when a passenger fired at him from close range.
The officer, who has been in the police for nine years, suffered burns to his forearm when the bullet narrowly missed him.
He was lucky to be alive, police said.
The woman drove off at high speed and the vehicle was found an hour later in Mt Eden.
Detectives and members of the armed offenders squad are hunting Murray Toleafoa, a 30-year-old Samoan with gang connections, and Nadia Ball.
Police warned against approaching Toleafoa, who is believed to be armed and dangerous.
Auckland police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said the shocked officer was being supported by colleagues and would receive counselling.
Several of his colleagues had been "very close by'' when he was fired on, she said.
She could not confirm whether a pursuit was launched after the incident but residents reported the Eagle helicopter overhead Mt Eden at the time the car was recovered.
Police Commissioner Peter Marshall condemned the shooting and said he had the "utmost admiration'' for the way frontline officers went about their jobs.
"Today's incident underlines the fact that police officers must be constantly alert and vigilant for signs of irrational behaviour by those with whom they interact.
"On the other hand good conversational communication is a police officer's best skill. Maintaining the balance is the art of policing and I take my hat off to my staff's professionalism.''
