A 40-year-old man has been charged in relation to an assault on a  police officer outside the Foxton Work and Income office.

Police were called to the office yesterday morning where a Horowhenua man was acting angrily.

He became aggressive, and after being pepper sprayed, punched the officer and set his dog on him.

Police caught up with the man after he fled to a rural address, where he was wielding a metal bar.

He was threatened with a taser before he surrendered.

The man's been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, failing to stop for police, and aggravated assault.

He'll appear in the Palmerston North District Court today.