BREAKING NEWS: Armed man on run from Police

Police across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty are searching for a man they believe may be armed and travelling through the area with his family.

Police said the male driver is not in a stable state of mind and has a firearm licence.

Members of the public raised concerns about the car in Cambridge at around 2.20pm.

Police said an emergency call was also made by someone believed to be an occupant of the vehicle asking for help.

"The vehicle, a navy blue Toyota Surf SUV, registration number DGU104, had a male driver, a woman passenger and two young children aboard when last seen and was believed to be heading either to Tauranga or the Coromandel," Inspector Dana McDonald said.

"We've had an unconfirmed report of the vehicle in the Waihi area and police from across the Waikato are working with Bay of Plenty colleagues to try and locate it.

"If members of the public sight the vehicle they are asked not to approach the vehicle but to ring 111 immediately."

The vehicle was first sighted at Te Awamutu, then northern Bay of Plenty.

Armed police staff are ready in case they sight the vehicle, which could now be travelling between Waihi and Tauranga.