A 25-year-old man is under arrest after a woman was held hostage in an incident involving armed police in Napier, which ended safely early this morning.
The address where a 25-year-old man was involved in a stand-off with police for 12 hours. Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley
Hawkes Bay police say they arrested a man at the Alexander Ave home in Onekawa at about 2am today.
Armed police arrived at the Onekawa property early yesterday afternoon.
Police said everybody involved in the incident was safe. A brief police statement on social media described it as "a really good result".
Cordons were stood down soon after and residents were able to return to their homes.
Police were remaining at the address as further enquires were made.
A 25-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm and was expected to appear at Hastings District Court this afternoon.
The Armed Offenders Squad and Police Negotiation Team were alerted about 2.15pm yesterday.
Four Napier schools - William Colenso College, Richmond Primary School, Maraenui Bilingual School and Henry Hill School - were in lockdown for about an hour and a half.
Tactical support staff from Levin were called in to help the Armed Offenders Squad and a police negotiation team who were already in the area.
King's House church in Riverbend Road, opposite Pukemokimoki Marae, had been asked to stay open to shelter residents who can not get into their homes.
Tala Sogafaiutumapu from Kings House Church on Riverbend Road said officers came to talk to her at 4.30pm.
"They basically asked if it was okay for people to come in, just like a place for them to be safe until they get the all clear. Hopefully it's not going to be an [overnight] situation but they could stay here if they needed to."
