(File photo) Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
One person is in custody and imitation guns have been seized, after two schools in Hamilton were placed in lockdown while police responded to a reported firearm sighting.
The firearm sighting was reported on Silverdale Road, just before 3pm Wednesday.
Police said some staff are armed as a precaution and a cordon had been set up, with the schools in lockdown as a precaution. Members of the public had earlier been advised to avoid the area,
By 5:30pm, police said two imitation firearms had been recovered from an address, and one person was in custody. The cordons had been removed.
Hillcrest High School - close to Silverdale Road - went into Lockdown at 3:13pm Wednesday, just minutes before the end of the school day. But it was lifted just after 5pm, the school said.
Parents and caregivers had been asked not go to the school.
RNZ understands Silverdale Normal School was also affected.
Silverdale Road, Hamilton. Photo: Google Maps
"We realise this has caused inconvenience and stress to our community but our first priority is the safety of our students and staff," Hillcrest High School said in a statement.
It had implemented emergency procedures and locked the school down as a result of Ministry of Education instructions.
"The school is satisfied the emergency processes and procedures undertaken were appropriate and carried out in the best interests of students and staff of Hillcrest High School," they said.
The school earlier said buses would return to the school when the lockdown ended.
On Wednesday afternoon, people had reported that roads around both schools had been blocked by police.
