Hastings police were on the moo-ve on Monday night after a wild cow escaped from a farm on the outskirts of the city.
The cattle beast evaded both police and city council officers by dodging traffic for more than 30 minutes on its journey from rural to suburban Hastings.
Sergeant John Fey said the pursuit was one of the more interesting jobs he had been involved in.
“There was no way this beast was going to give in and he just literally hoofed it down the main road and through the streets. He was on a mission,” he said.
Police were called to the Whakatu property of Silver Fern Farms about 8pm after the beast escaped and hot-footed it down a main arterial route.
Fey said police and city council officers tried to warn traffic and pedestrians of the oncoming hazard.
“We spoke to one young guy who was walking along the street with an MP3 player stuck in his ear, oblivious to what was going on. He scarpered when he saw the beast coming towards him.”
Several attempts were made to corner the beast, but it immediately charged anyone in its way, Fey said.
The beast was eventually shot dead around 9.15pm.
NZPA
