Armed police were this afternoon searching Lower Hutt for a man who pulled a gun on a police officer.

The man pointed a handgun at a police officer during a routine vehicle stop in Naenae this morning, Inspector Geoff Gwynn said.

He then fled on foot leaving his vehicle behind.

The officer was shaken but unhurt.

About 40 police, including the armed offenders squad, were hunting the gunman including executing a series of search warrants across the Wellington and Hutt Valley region.

"We believe we know who we are dealing with," Mr Gwynn said.