Teen murderer Haami Hanara has escaped custody and is on the run.
Hanara, 16, was sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing a homeless man to death outside a bar in Hawke's Bay in 2018.
He was being held at youth justice facility Korowai Manaaki in Auckland until he and another teen fled on Saturday night.
Hanara is considered dangerous and should not be approached.
"Police are appealing to anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police on 111," a police spokesperson says.
"Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Oranga Tamariki youth justice services general manager Ben Hannifin says it is working with police to establish how the two teens escaped the facility, which was fully staffed at the time.
Hanara was just 14 when he killed homeless man Kelly Donner in Flaxmere.
An altercation ensued after he and his friends - all aged between 14 and 16 - took Donner's torch and wouldn't give it back. Bottles were thrown by both parties and a fight spilled into a nearby pub's yard.
Hanara then stabbed Donner four times - twice in his neck and once each in his shoulder and chest. The group of teens continued to beat and kick the man as he lay on the ground.
