Inspector Trevor Beggs talks to media after a wanted man trying to evade the police jumped from the Auckland Harbour Bridge and died.

Multiple police cars, police boats and a police helicopter had been pursuing a 31-year-old wanted man who died after jumping off the highest point of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Police on Thursday afternoon named the man as Alaric Eccleston.

Police were notified just after 11am on Thursday that Eccleston, who had four warrants out for his arrest, had gone to a house in Orewa in north Auckland and stolen a car and money from a woman he knew and who was thought to have been a former partner.

ONE NEWS NOW Alaric Eccleston was wanted previously after cutting off his home detention bracelet in April.

Inspector Trevor Beggs spoke to media later on Thursday, saying police had spoken with Eccleston's immediate next of kin, who had asked for privacy from all media at this time.

READ MORE: Auckland man facing assault charge cuts off ankle bracelet

In July, police asked for the public's help in finding Eccleston after he fled his home detention by cutting off his bracelet in April.

Supplied/NZ Police Police in July released this photo of Alaric Eccleston, 30, saying he had multiple warrants out for his arrest and should not be approached.

At that time he had an active charge for allegedly assaulting someone using the butt of a firearm.

Police had advised people not to approach him.

Thursday's police chase began on the North Shore near Esmonde Road and continued through the suburbs of Parnell, Newmarket, Mt Eden and Mt Albert.

SIMON MAUDE/FAIRFAX NZ A wanted man jumped off the Auckland Harbour Bridge into the water.

Parnell resident Julie Yallop said she saw Eccleston drive towards St Stephens Avenue's dead-end, chased by three police cars, then "spin around and screech out of there again."

"It's just unbelievable that three police cars couldn't stop him in a cul-de-sac," she said.

"I just felt sad when I heard he'd later died - even though he might have been a baddy, he was also somebody's son."

She described Eccleston as "absolutely focused at the steering wheel."

At Parnell, Eccleston used his car to ram two police cars. No officers were injured in that incident.

He then travelled to Newmarket, where Beggs said police abandoned the pursuit because of the way Eccleston was driving and the risk to members of the public.

The Eagle Helicopter took over and observed the car from the air.

The vehicle travelled to Mt Eden and onto Mt Albert and then onto the north-western motorway at Te Atatu.

Did you see the incident? Email newstips@stuff.co.nz

Eccleston headed back towards the city and the pursuit resumed as he travelled back towards the North Shore.

At the highest point of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Eccleston stopped his car, ran from the vehicle and immediately jumped over the railing.

Three police cars were just behind him when he jumped.

Beggs said it was unclear if it was an attempted suicide but Eccleston did stop at the highest point of the harbour bridge.

Incident on AKL Hbr Bridge has left two lanes northbound blocked. Merge right to middle lanes & #ExpectDelays ^TP pic.twitter.com/ecYkMQav3l — NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) September 8, 2016

Police boats were already in position under the bridge when he jumped. They reached him shortly after he hit the water but attempts at CPR were unsuccessful.

Beggs did not comment on what the four warrants for arrest were for.

The entire pursuit lasted about 40-45 minutes, Beggs said.

Police said officers from the police boat Deodar pulled the man from the water and performed CPR on him as they travelled to the Marine Rescue Centre in Mechanics Bay.

Once there medics from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter base helped with medical support.

The incident caused delays on the bridge after the man left his vehicle blocking the left lane, heading north.

The New Zealand Transport Agency warned of the event just after midday, saying the two left lanes northbound were blocked.

The lanes were reopened just after 12.30pm.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority will review what happened.