Wellington  - A man wanted for questioning about a murder was arrested by New Zealand police Tuesday after a manhunt moved into its third day.

The man, who had been on the run in freezing weather since Sunday when police mounted a cordon around 15 square kilometres of North Island farmland, was taken to hospital with hypothermia, news reports said.

He will appear in court on Wednesday.

Police alleged the suspect, David John Bourke, 46, opened fire at an officer after failing an alcohol breath test when his car was stopped on Sunday, and then fled, shooting a farmhand in the shoulder while on the run.

Police said the body of a middle-aged man was found on the back seat of Bourke's car after he crashed it and ran off. (dpa)