A daring inmate has escaped from his prison in a Department of Corrections 4WD.
Jamie Paamu Hughes, 29, escaped from Rangipo Prison near Turangi about 11.15am this morning, police said.
Hughes escaped in a white 2005 Toyota Landcruiser, registration CPU985, which had a large grey speaker mounted on the roof.
Hughes is a 160cm tall male Maori of thin build. Police said anyone who sees him should not approach him but should contact police.
His escape from the state-run prison comes on the day that Serco, the private company managing Mt Eden Prison in Auckland, was fined $150,000 after Aaron Forden, dubbed "Houdini" for his serial escapes, broke out of the prison on October 10.
NZN