Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead said armed offender squad members were involved. "I can confirm three addresses, one in Te Awamutu, one in Pirongia and a third in Kawhia were searched in connection with inquiries connected to the shooting of Dwayne Andre Wilson," he said.

 

Mr Wilson, a member of the Tribesmen motorcycle gang, was shot at his isolated Waingaro home in the early hours of June 7. Police are looking for Hamilton man Kim Smith, 41, a senior member of rival gang the Outcasts, in connection with the shooting.

 

Smith, who has been on the run from police since skipping bail in December on drugs and weapons charges, had been hiding at Wilson's farm. Mr Whitehead confirmed Smith was the target of the raids.

 

"These searches were conducted as part of our focus in the search for Mr Smith, because of the nature of the addresses and the people residing in them we deemed it prudent to use the armed offender squad," he said.

 

Neither Smith nor Carrie Lyndon, a 23-year-old woman thought to be on the run with him, were found.