Three homes have been searched in two Auckland suburbs as police step up the hunt for a man who fired at an officer from a car in the central city early on Friday.
The shot, fired from close range, narrowly missed the policeman who escaped with burns to his forearm but was otherwise unhurt.
The shooting has sparked a hunt for a man connected to the Tribesmen gang.
A white Toyota Altezza with two occupants - a female driver and a male passenger - was pulled over by the policeman, who was accompanied by another officer, on Mayoral Drive as part of a routine check at 1am.
The pair gave their names to the officer when he approached the car, then, without warning, the passenger leant across the driver and fired a pistol, police say.
The car then sped off and was recovered an hour later on View Rd, Mt Eden.
A police dog unit was brought in but no one was found.
A holster was found inside the car but the pistol was gone.
Police are hunting Murray Toleafoa and Nadia Ball in relation to the shooting.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard told media on Friday afternoon three search warrants had been carried out in Glen Innes and Otara but no arrests had been made.
He urged Toleafoa to hand himself in and issued a warning: "We don't want this to end in any tragedy".
Toleafoa, described as a Samoan of solid build, is armed and dangerous and should not be approached, Mr Beard says.
Earlier on Friday Police Commissioner Peter Marshall said he was "thankful" that the shot fired missed the policeman.
The traumatised officer - a constable who has been in the police force for nine years - who was shot at is being supported by colleagues and was seen by ambulance officers at the scene.
At least 21 officers are working on the investigation.
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