Police arrest 'dangerous' Christchurch man wanted in relation to firearms incident

AMBERLEY, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 10: A police officer stops a car at a checkpoint on April 10, 2020 in Amberley, New Zealand. With New Zealand in lockdown due to COVID-19, police are setting up checkpoints across the country to ensure people on the roads are travelling for essential purposes only. The Easter long weekend is a popular time for New Zealanders to go on holiday, however current Level 4 restrictions in place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic requires everyone to remain at the place of residence they were in as of midnight 25 March when New Zealand went into lockdown. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The Christchurch man who caused several schools to go into lockdown after a firearms incident has been located by police.

Superintendent Lane Todd said the 23-year-old man was located late on Thursday night after a manhunt which began at 12pm.

The man was wanted in relations to a firearms incident which put Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School and the nearby BestStart Roydvale into lockdown, and cordoned off several streets.

Ten members of the armed offenders squad, firefighters, St John crews and police dog squads were called to the incident at the residential address.

A witness told Stuff that police could be heard speaking to someone at a property on Highwood Lane through a megaphone.

The man will appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday facing several charges, which are still being confirmed.