UPDATED 3.32pm The best friend of the man who died after jumping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday has described it as a bad decision that cost him his life.

Walter Potini John has posted his tribute on Facebook, saying his best mate Alaric Eccleston should have given up instead of trying to outrun police.

READ MORE: Man who jumped off Harbour Bridge named

Thirty-year-old Eccleston had been on the run for five months after cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet in April.

Yesterday's police chase began in Orewa, before snaking around Auckland's inner city suburbs.

Eccleston then abandoned his car at the top Harbour Bridge and jumped.

His best friend said Eccleston will be dearly missed, and hopes he will fly high and rest in paradise.

An ex-girlfriend of Eccleston said he was a "gentleman" who turned "really nasty" when he didn't take his meds.

Ex-girlfriend Dannie, who doesn't want to be identified by her full name, first met Eccleston a few years ago.

She said he was a "perfect gentleman" when she first met him but turned into a "really nasty person" when he didn't take his medication for schizophrenia.

Eccleston's death has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.