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8.44pm:

A young man who says he owns the house Heke is holed up in said there was nobody living in the property at the time. A neighbour had called him to say police were surrounding the house, and he had driven to Morrinsville to give them a house key. He said he just wanted to go home to watch Game of Thrones.

8.40pm:

Up to 14 loud explosions have been heard. Police are now back on the loud hailer.

8.34pm: Multiple explosions can be heard coming from the scene. Three have been heard in the past 30 seconds. The explosions could be tear gas. Another bang can be heard, making four in last 40 seconds. Police appear to be intensifying their presence.

Earlier

Armed police hunting for the man believed to have opened fire on officers in Morrinsville on Sunday have surrounded a house and are calling for him to come out.

The suspect has been named tonight as 36-year-old Rollie James Heke.

A police spokeswoman said Waikato police and the armed offenders squad are currently executing a search warrant on Studholme St in relation to Sunday's shooting.

A cordon is believed to have gone up on Cureton St, near where Heke is believed to have shot at three officers who fled for their lives.

The intersection of Studholme and Cureton Sts is in darkness as police - including armed offenders squad members - wait before approaching the house Heke is suspected to be hiding in.

It appears police are centering their attention on a house down the end of Studholme St.

Many residents have also gathered at the intersection to watch the action unfold.

A local resident heard police say "come out now, you won't be harmed".

Heke is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached, police said.

Newstalk ZB reporter Sam Carran is at the cordon on Cureton and Studholm St and said there are police cars, vans and a number of officers with assault riffles.

"They've got spikes laid out so that any cars on Studholm Street won't be able to get out.

"Further down the road a number of men are fully kitted out in AOS uniforms, moving across the road towards a house.

Rollie James Heke is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached. (Photo / Supplied)

"Members of the public have said they've heard a loudhailer go off, trying to get whoever is in the house to come out. We don't know, at this stage, if it is Mr Heke or not," said Carran.

There is a large police presence on Studholme Street. Dogs can be heard barking every now and then but the police have recently stopped using the loudhailer.

Street lights on the street have just been turned off to give the officers running across the street more cover.

Morrinsville man Johnny Harrison said that he heard dogs barking when he got diverted away from the cordon by police.

Road spikes have been laid at the cordon so that cars on Studholm St won't be able to get out. (Photo / Belinda Feek)

"There are armed police standing with vests on, stopping people from getting into the cordon.

"I heard dogs barking and someone talking through a megaphone, it sounded like they're trying to coerce someone out of a residence."

Sunday's shooting incident occurred just after midnight after a police pursuit in the Waikato town.

It sparked a major manhunt involving around 30 staff, including Armed Offenders Squad members.

Police said Heke is actively avoiding them and is known to have links to Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga.

He has several existing warrants to arrest for methamphetamine-related offences and breaching bail conditions.

Heke featured on Police 10-7 in March this year after he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and went on the run.

Police at the time said he had a warrant to arrest for charges including importing methamphetamine, and warned not to approach him as he was considered dangerous.

He also featured on the TV show in 2016 after he breached his bail conditions. He was described as 6ft (183cm) and of medium build.

He was among a group of Rimutaka Prison inmates charged with conspiring to import methamphetamine in 2014.

Police asked anyone who saw Heke or knew where he was to call 111 immediately.

"Police would like to remind anyone who is assisting Heke to avoid apprehension that they are committing a criminal offence and could face charges themselves."

Anyone with information on Heke's whereabouts is asked to contact Waikato Police on (07) 858 6200 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.