Police cordon off the suburb of Cloverlea in Palmerston North as they search for a lone gunman.

Some residents of Cloverlea in Palmerston North are waking in cars on Friday morning as they wait for the cordon to lift as police hunt Caleb Kovaleski.

Overnight, police escorted many people back to their homes inside the cordon as the situation stretched into a second day.

Those apparently unable to get through the cordon dossed down in their cars, intermittently turning on the ignition to stay warm.

A manhunt is on in Cloverlea for Caleb Kovaleski.

The temperature hit a low of 5C overnight in Palmerston North.

Other residents were directed from all cordons to the Cloverlea Tavern.

Police are still patrolling on foot, keeping people out of alternative entry points to the suburb.

Caleb Kovaleski has been named as the man at the centre of a Palmerston North manhunt by his adoptive father, Jim Antcliff.

FRIDAY MORNING CORDONS REMAIN IN PLACE AT:

* Gillespies Line – Flygers Line

* Benmore Ave

* Herbert Ave

* Tremaine Ave

* Bennett St and Benmore Ave.

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David Unwin/ Stuff.co.nz Police on a manhunt close off Cloverlea area leaving residents stranded.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

* Police have confirmed the man they are after is Caleb Kovaleski, age 25

* Residents who can't get to their homes should find alternative accommodation

* Alternatively, people looking for accommodation can talk to police staff at the Cloverlea Hotel

* Residents are asked to keep doors and windows locked

* Anyone whose home is empty should contact police to let them know

* Empty homes would be cleared by officers

* Cloverlea Primary School and kindergarten will be closed Friday

* Police are after sightings of a stolen silver Ford Telstar/Mazda 626 hatchback with a sunroof.



DAD'S MESSAGE: "COME BACK"

David Unwin A police officer stands at the cordon on Gillespies Line, Palmerston North.

The adoptive father of a man being hunted by police in Manawatu has made an emotional plea to his son.

"Son I love you, we want you to come back, I don't want to see you dead. Son, I don't want to have to bury you."

Jim Antcliff, the "whangai" father of the man, says he was contacted by Caleb Kovaleski, 25, who he has raised from the age of 15, earlier on Thursday. Kovaleski told him he had fled police, pulled a gun on them, and that a helicopter was trying to find him.

David Unwin Police block off a section of Cloverlea, at Gillespie Line, during a manhunt.

"I said, 'son, you've got to come home'."

Antcliff has apologised his own Facebook for the inconvenience his son has caused.

"To all the families and especially kids… I'm sorry for your inconvenience he's a good man… and he will be sorry that you all are not at home… he loves kids and family."

Kovaleski has family in Nelson and New Plymouth, including two young daughters.

In another post on Thursday night, Antclliff said: "Your kids son … they want their dad."

SCHOOL AND KINDY CLOSED

Cloverlea Primary School and Kindergarten will be closed today while the cordons remain in place, police said in a statement.

There has been no change in the situation overnight.

"We understand this incident is proving to be disruptive and that people want to go back to their homes and return to their routines. However our priority in this case is to keep the public safe."

Those inside the cordons are asked to "remain vigilant" and keep their properties safe, secure their doors and windows, and call police on 111 if they have any concerns or see suspicious behaviour.

POLICE STAY MUM ON KOVALESKI

Police have confirmed Caleb Kovaleski is the man they're looking for but have not revealed why he is wanted.

They have been searching for him in the suburb of Cloverlea since Thursday morning. A police media spokesperson said officers attempted to stop a car in Palmerston North at 10.45am. The driver, Kovaleski, was known to police and had warrants for his arrest, but fled the scene in a grey Mazda.

Kovaleski is described as European, thin to medium build, and about 178cm tall.

The public has been told not to approach him and to call 111 if he is sighted.

Police are also looking for a stolen car, a silver Ford Telstar or Mazda 626 hatchback with a sunroof.

Antcliff said he had been in touch with his son for most of the day and had been receiving text messages from him.

At 12.16pm, he received a text from Kovaleski saying; "I've got a loaded shotgun, I've lost everything and I love you dad".

Antcliff said he asked police if he could go inside the cordon to find Kovaleski, but was denied.

"I said give me a bull horn and I will walk up every street until he comes out."

Kovaleski had told him he had made demands to police, which included a six-pack of beer and a pizza. Antcliff said he thought the situation stemmed from problems Kovaleski was having with his partner.

He had not heard from Kovaleski since later afternoon, but he did not believe police knew where his son was.

LONG WAIT FOR RESIDENTS

Some Cloverlea residents were put up in Highbury's St Michael's Anglican Church and Marae overnight, while a few were able to be escorted into their homes.

About 40 cars waited outside the Benmore Ave cordon on Thursday night.

Around 11.50pm, police cars were seen driving people back inside the cordon. Stuff understands this was done once the person's residence had been searched and deemed safe for them to return.

Jason McMillan had returned to get to his property about 4pm.



He said on arrival about 80 to 100 cars were waiting, so he headed to his in-laws for coffee and returned about 9pm. He had been sitting in his vehicle ever since.

"They were letting people through ... but then they stopped."

McMillan said he had work in the morning so he would sleep in his car outside the cordon if he had to.

After hearing who the offender involved was, McMillan said he was surprised as he had met Kovaleski before. He said, at that time, about a year ago, he was aware Kovaleski had just got out of prison.

Cloverlea Tavern, situated on the corner of one of the cordons, opened up its function room to those who had been left waiting.

Manager Shargey Witoko said they had offered a light meal as well as tea and coffee to those in need, in addition to any other facilities they could provide.

"It's something really nice to see people in the community together ... even under the circumstances.

"[People have] been up and down, there's a lot of worried people, a lot of worried parents.

"I think the morale is pretty low for a lot people."

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