16 Jul 2019

Police respond to reports of armed man in Hawera

4:08 pm on 16 July 2019

A 27-year-old man is facing wilful damage charges following an Armed Offenders call out in Hawera today.

Police attend the scene of a cordon at Mangere.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police said that a woman warned them at 8.40am that a man who appeared to have a firearm was doing damage to a car on Waihi Road.

They said armed police searched a home in the area but did not find anything of interest.

Cordons were up at Waihi, Maire and Glover Road, and Rimu Street and Rata Street, but they were taken down by the afternoon.

Police were continuing to make inquiries in the area to find the man.

People were asked to avoid the area if possible.