The dramatic moment shots were fired between police and a fleeing driver in the Bay of Plenty have been captured on security camera.

Shots were fired and elderly people nearly run over during a dramatic high-speed police chase in the Bay of Plenty.

Police have confirmed they shot back at a gunman who used two cars to lead officers on a dramatic police chase through the Bay of Plenty today.

Andrew Coster says there would have to be a "very high threshold" for him to change his belief that our police should not be routinely armed.

Five people were arrested as part of an ongoing police operation targeting the illegal manufacture of meth in the region.

Police have arrested five people and seized more than $2.5 million in assets after a series of raids in Christchurch.