Dolphy Kohu has been charged with attempted murder after a massive police search across the central North Island, which started after police were allegedly shot at and had their car stolen.

Seven people, including a man charged with attempted murder following an extensive North Island manhunt have appeared in court.

Dolphy Tetawhero Kohu, 23, and six associates, Aroha Kohu, Hemi Kohu, Carlos Duane Bushell, Melissa Vaka and Hereina Paul and Michael Joseph Tamatea appeared in the High Court in Whanganui in front of Justice Simon France on Wednesday.

No pleas were entered.

Kohu and Paul were remanded in custody, while the remaining five were remanded on bail. All will reappear in court in November.

The group triggered a manhunt after the chase, which started in Whanganui and ended near Raetihi, in the central North Island, with officers shot at from close range about 3.30am on August 19.

The chase had begun about an hour earlier near Whanganui when police had tried to stop a car with a group of four or five people in it who were "acting suspiciously".

Two police officers fled to a neighbouring house after they were shot at in the. The police car was then stolen.

The seven face various offences: Dolphy Kohu is charged with the attempted murder of Sergeant Shaun Jones, using a firearm against police and two charges of stealing vehicles - one of those a police car.

He also faces three more charges, failing to stop, reckless operation of a vehicle and unlawful use of a firearm, following Wednesday's appearance.

Aroha Kohu, 39, is alleged to have used a firearm against police and entered a stolen vehicle.

Hemi Kohu and Mellisa Vaka, both 17, are charged with being party to using a firearm against police and getting into a stolen vehicle.

Bushell, 28, is charged with helping Dolphy Kohu avoid arrest, while 22-year-old Hereina Paul is charged with using a firearm against police and getting into two stolen vehicles.

Tamatea was charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and being party to using a firearm against a law enforcement officer.