The offender has since been taken in to police custody.
Police have locked down Kawerau to hunt for an offender after shots were fired.
Around noon on Wednesday residents in nearby Te Teko, in the Bay of Plenty, say they heard multiple gunshots ring out near the local superette before seeing police cars chasing a grey vehicle.
Posts on a local Facebook page claim the superette was "held up" before the chase began.
The car was found abandoned in Dommet Street in the neighbouring town of Kawerau leading police to put the area into lockdown.
Tarawera High School posted on Facebook saying the school has been locked down and parents are urged to stay home.
"Please do not come to the school site at this time as you will be unable to enter the police cordon."
Cordons have been set up at each end of the town at Liverpool Street, River Road and Tamarangi Drive.
Police are urging people to stay away from town as they hunt for the offender.
