Police have arrested a man who was wandering naked around a residential Auckland suburb and throwing tennis balls at passing cars in the nippy weather this afternoon.

The naked man, who is in his 40s or 50s, was seen around the Wells Road, Howick, area by startled drivers and locals, who phoned police about 1pm, Senior Sergeant Justin Tairua said.

The man "wasn't too happy about police turning up" and was violent toward officers, who eventually restrained him and brought him in to the station.

He was charged with indecent exposure and assaulting police and will appear in court next week.

Mr Tairua said the man was well known by local police as someone who tended to "play up".

He remains in police custody.