UPDATED 4.55PM: Auckland Police are asking for help in identifying a man on the loose - armed with a gun.

He pointed the firearm at officers in Otara this morning, after crashing his car on Bairds Road.

Counties Manukau East Area Commander Inspector Wendy Spiller said earlier the man had sped off in a car at a routine police check point - leading to a short chase through Papatoetoe and Otara.

She said the chase was abandoned, but shortly after Police came across the crash.

When they approached the car, the man pointed the gun at them and fled.

"Any incident where a firearm is pointed at anyone, not just police, is serious and for concern for us. I can't tell you if there's been an increase, but there's definitely been a number of them of late."

Police are trying to establish if the man was in a stolen car. 

"Obviously we're treating this matter very seriously, and we'd like to have information from our local community in relation to this person" said Spiller.