New Zealand police hunt naked handcuffed prisoner

WELLINGTON - New Zealand police said Saturday they were hunting a prisoner who was nearly naked and handcuffed with his arms behind him when he escaped from custody by diving head first over a cliff.

The man, named as Werimu Rangi Hauraki, had only some weed-matting wrapped around him when he got away while being taken to a police station in Whakatane, a seaside town on the east coast of the North Island.

Police believe Hauraki, who has long dreadlocks, is hiding out in a local house.