Police arrest man after four minute laser-strike on rescue helicopter

A man who shone a laser at the Otago Rescue Helicopter for four minutes has been charged with endangering transport, police say.

The helicopter crew contacted police at about 10pm on Monday to say that they had been struck by a high-powered laser.

The chopper crew managed to pinpoint where the laser strike had come from and then used the helicopter to follow the offender as he got in his car to head north out of town, police said.

The car's driver attempted to hide in a petrol station, but the helicopter crew were able to guide police on the ground to the vehicle, they said.

Officers were able to stop the vehicle and arrest its occupant who admitted to shining the laser at the aircraft, police said.

In a statement, Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said pointing a laser at any aircraft can affect a pilot's ability to safely control the plane or helicopter and can cause loss of vision.

"The laser was shined at the helicopter for a total of four minutes, which is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous," he said.

A 39-year-old local man was charged with Endangering Transport and was bailed to appear in the Oamaru District Court on 27 November.