A Napier man's been arrested accused of swinging a machete at police overnight

Police say they approached the 21-year-old when he crashed into a fence in Awatoto, after driving at double the speed limit with his lights off.

He chased officers with a machete, who eventually stopped him with pepper spray, after an attempt with a taser failed.

He's being charged with threatening to kill, drunk driving, and assaulting Police, and is appearing in Hastings District Court today.