One person has been arrested after a firearms incident near a Tauranga primary school on Thursday morning.
Just before 9am on Thursday, police were called to Bellevue Primary School, which had gone into a voluntary lockdown after a firearms incident, according to a police spokesperson.
The Armed Offenders Squad was put on standby, but at 9:50am police confirmed the school was no longer in lockdown and cordons had been removed.
At 10am, the school posted on Facebook that everyone was safe.
"Parents we are now out of lockdown and everything is safe. A massive well done to the kids and the staff," the school said.
Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Insp Clifford Paxton said an adult had since been arrested in relation to the reported discharging of a firearm on a property neighbouring the school.
People had earlier posted on the Bay of Plenty Accidents and Traffic Facebook page that gun shots were heard in a car park.
One person suggested a woman was "firing shots at another house" near the Bellevue school boundary.
"We understand this has been a distressing incident for the Bellevue community, especially the staff and students at nearby schools," said Insp Paxton.
"The staff at Bellevue Primary School did a fantastic job of following lockdown protocols and ensuring the safety of staff and pupils."
Students at Otumoetai College also said their school went into lockdown at the same time, but police said "alleged threats" towards another school in the area were unrelated to the firearms incident near the Bellevue school.
"We are just sitting against the walls waiting for news," said a someone from Otumoetai College at the time.
According to one person, Otumoetai College was meant to have a drill on Thursday.
Police would be following up on the alleged threats.
National leader and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges tweeted his concern on Thursday morning.
"Very concerning to hear reports of a firearms incident in Tauranga. My thoughts are with the students in lock down and their families. Police are responding," he said.
Police say no one else is being sought in relation to the incident and no one had been injured during the incident.
Newshub.
