A man has been arrested after an armed chase through forestry land on the banks of the Waikato River.
The Armed Offenders Squad and police from other areas were called in for back-up after a domestic dispute at a rural home near Rotorua escalated.
Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry of Tokoroa police says a man broke through a cordon of the house, sparking a 50km car and helicopter chase through forestry roads.
At one stage, he says, the man rammed his car into two police cars, with one so damaged it had to withdraw.
Mr Verry says the man then drove his car into the Waikato River, swam across and hid but was eventually discovered.
The man was due to appear in court on Wednesday charged with assaulting police.
