UPDATED 12.13PM: Police have found what they believe is the vehicle involved in an early-morning shooting, and are hunting a person of interest.

An Armed Offenders Squad operation is going on now in Manurewa, believed to be related to this morning's shooting in Friedlanders Road in which a sawn-off shotgun was brandished and fired at a police car.

Officers are looking for 30-year-old Patrick Dixon (pictured left), who is described as Maori, 177cm tall, and of medium build. He has tattoos on his left arm and the left side of his neck.

Police stated that he has warrants out for his arrest for unlawful carriage and possession of a firearm.

Earlier today, Manurewa mum Lisa Anderson described her terrifying wake-up to gunshots as occupants of a white Nissan Sunny sped away from police on Wordsworth Road.

"My first instinct was to run outside and have a look but I stopped myself at the front door and turned around and ran to the sleepout where my son and my mum was because I was scared," she said.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said it's of huge concern that criminals threaten staff or the public with firearms, and today's incident reiterates that police can never be complacent.

He said staff and community safety is a top priority for police.

The case in Manurewa comes three days after a man shot into a crowd of 40 people drinking at a park in Mangere.