The New Zealand police are looking into a former Russian spy who claims he was poisoned on Auckland's Queen Street.

Photo: Good Morning Britain

Boris Karpichkov said he fled to New Zealand in fear of his life in 2006, but was tracked down by an FSB assassin who threw powder at him, leaving him very ill.

"I walked around 1500 metres and then almost passed out because my head started spinning. I started sweating," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain television show.

Mr Karpichkov said he lost 30kg and body hair started falling out.

He said he was tipped off three weeks ago that an attempt would be made on the life of former spy Sergei Skripal.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench on 4 March.

Boris Karpichkov says he is on a list of eight names that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants dead.

In a statement, New Zealand police said they were aware Mr Karpichkov was in the country between June 2006 and October 2007.

"We are currently examining our files to assess what information we may hold about Mr Karpichkov."

However they said given the amount of time that had passed it was likely to take "some time to complete this assessment."