A bomb scare in Hawera has turned out to be a false alarm.
The town's police station was cordoned off this morning after a suspicious package was left outside its front door.
The police said a local person had found the briefcase-sized metal box, and left it at the police station as lost property.
That person has contacted police to explain why the item was left.
Army explosives specialists were stood down at Trentham near Wellington.
