Suspected boat burglar swims away from police in slow-motion Bay of Islands chase

A suspected boat burglar has been arrested after jumping into the tide and leading police on a slow-motion chase in the Bay of Islands.

He refused to come ashore, instead rowing towards the ferry ramp then abandoning his dinghy and swimming towards Russell.

Officers, including a police dog, followed him in an inflatable boat.

The police spokesperson said the man had missed his calling: "He should have been a marathon swimmer."