Police pursued a stolen car in Auckland during rush-hour this evening, eventually making two arrests.

It happened just after six this evening when the driver of the Mazda Demio failed to stop when signalled to do so.

The pursuit began in Kirkbride Road at Mangere and the fleeing driver went north on the Southwestern Motorway to Auckland.

The vehicle was seen on CCTV footage turning off the motorway into Hillsborough Road.

The police Eagle helicopter then spotted it when it was headed back to the Southwestern Motorway and passed traffic on the left shoulder at high speed.

The fleeing driver got stuck in heavy traffic and hit a truck before both driver and passenger abandoned it and fled on foot.

The two were taken into custody a short time later.