UPDATED 8.28PM: A Northland man, who has been missing since Friday, is still on the run after a police search warrant in Kaiwaka proved fruitless this evening.

Joshua Mason Kite, 33, has a history of criminal offences including convictions for three major armed robberies in Auckland in 2007.

He has also escaped custody after convincing court staff he was another person, and was wanted last month for allegedly possessing methamphetamine for supply.

Police confirmed they completed the search warrant at a Kaiwaka address where Kite was nowhere to be found.

A large police presence was earlier spotted on Brown Rd, off the Kaiwaka Mangawhai Rd.

Fire crews and ambulance were also at the scene, on the quiet country road, and there were sightings of a helicopter.

Earlier this afternoon, a massive police presence was spotted in the Warkworth area.

Witnesses spoke of seeing police paddy wagons, patrol cars and a dog van travelling along State Highway 1.

A Herald reporter at the scene said at least one police car was stationed at the entrance of the road to the Dome Valley carpark.

One of the paddy wagons had two police cars travelling very close as if it was under tight guard.

Another staffer saw about 10 police cars and a couple of vans going north with sirens on.

Members of the Armed Offenders Squad and ambulances were also seen.

Police ask for anyone with information on Kite's whereabouts to contact their local police, or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111