Dramatic footage has emerged of the final moments a driver chased by up to 20 police cars is pulled from his vehicle cornered in a mall carpark by armed police.

A shopper inside the carpark witnessed the conclusion of the city-wide pursuit across multiple suburbs, including downtown Auckland, yesterday afternoon.

At the end, the driver was surrounded and pulled from his vehicle in a mall carpark.

Police swarmed a vehicle at Onehunga Dress Smart shopping centre after a pursuit across Auckland. Photo / Kenneth VanHouse

Kenneth VanHouse, who took the video, said he and his wife were changing their newborn in their car when police entered the Dress Smart Onehunga shopping centre carpark.

“I saw the driver go past me ... then they boxed him in,” he said.

VanHouse said he was shocked at what he believed was “aggressive” force used to arrest the man.

“It could have been relatively justified, I don’t know what caused the high speed police chase... but maybe 30 seconds after the video ends I walk back and the guy is pummelled,” he said.

A police vehicle with damage after a pursuit across Auckland. Photo / Kenneth VanHouse

“I mean from head to torso covered in blood ... it was vicious,” he said.

VanHouse said saw the driver before the pursuit ended and he appeared unscathed.

“One minute he was fine and then the next he was beaten to a pulp.”

Police have been approached for comment.

How the chase unfolded

According to police, before 3pm Tuesday, a blue Subaru was travelling towards the city on the Northwestern Motorway.

Inspector Kerry Watson said police staff tried to approach the vehicle at Western Springs.

“Instead, the driver took off from police at speed on Great North Rd towards Point Chevalier,” Watson said.

Shortly after 3pm, at least 10 police vehicles could be seen descending on the Auckland CBD, with the Eagle helicopter overhead.

Police said the vehicle was driven across central Auckland suburbs and the CBD, before heading towards Three Kings and eventually Onehunga.

The vehicle drove into Dress Smart Onehunga carpark shortly after 3.30pm.

“Our staff blocked the vehicle in before taking the male driver into custody,” Watson said.

Three police vehicles were reportedly damaged.

Police told the Herald a Northland man was due to appear in court today on charges including aggravated assault, reckless driving, failing to stop and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

During the incident, it was established the 31-year-old was wanted on active court matters, including aggravated robbery.