Known to police and on the run for 11 months, now criticisms have come out about police's approach to finding suspected Morrinsville gunman Rollie Heke.

The search has been elevated to a national level after it's alleged Heke escaped a gunfight against police in Morrinsville over the weekend.

Heke has been on the run since September last year.

Residents from Morrinsville have been critical of police, saying they weren't given any updates while a gunman was loose in their town - and questions are being asked as to how media companies were the first people to talk to Heke's mother after all this time.

Detective Superintendent Chris Page said at times it seems they are in a race with media.

"Sometimes the evidence will point us one way and it comes to a dead end so it's unfortunate but it's one of the realities of of today's modern media."

Page said Heke also appeared on Police Ten 7 earlier this year.

"We've been looking for him for a long time and recent events just reinforced that he needs to come in."