Several North Island schools have been plunged into lockdown or evacuated by police after a bomb threat was made.
A police spokesperson said officers are aware of threats made via phone in relation to five North Island schools and after investigating the threats police believe there is no specific safety risk.
The investigation into the source of the threats is ongoing.
Schools plunged into lockdown
Lytton High School in Gisborne posted on Facebook the school had been evacuated after a bomb threat was made.
A person at the scene told Newshub at least a dozen police officers swarmed the school.
Students can be collected by parents and guardians from Lytton Road on the field side. Students who can't be collected will be locked after.
Matamata College and Cambridge High School in the Waikato region have also been evacuated.
"An alarm went off we've never heard before and we all got sent out to the field for half an hour. There are police everywhere, we've just been allowed home," a 16-year-old Cambridge High student told Newshub.
Cambridge High students can be collected from Taylor Street and Matamata College students from Station Road.
The public is advised not to come on school grounds.
Meanwhile, Thames High School, Matamata Intermediate School and Firth Primary School were plunged into lockdown.
"Our students are being fantastic and following teacher instructions. They are all safe inside classrooms, with adults as we wait for our next direction from the police," Matamata Intermediate School posted.
The schools later evacuated their students.
Thames high school said students have been evacuated to the field after a "low-risk bomb threat" and the police are doing a thorough investigation of the school.
Matamata Intermediate said parents and guardians can collect their children from the Smith Street entrance where staff in hi-viz will send for their child.
Firth Primary said parents can collect their children from the Station Road entry only.
"We can assure you that your child is safe and if they need to remain at school we will continue to follow instructions from the local police and update you with further information when this comes to hand."
Chris Hipkins says the threats are 'irresponsible'
Police and Education Minister Chris Hipkins told Newshub that while he doesn't have a huge amount of detail yet, his understanding of the threats is that it is similar to a situation that occurred in 2016, where there were some schools that had "basically a mixed cyber-attack/bomb threat".
Hipkins said these types of threats are very irresponsible and stressful.
"Particularly if they are malicious and not driven by any kind of underlying facts, they are hugely disruptive, they are very irresponsible and they are incredibly stressful for schools," he said.
"If on the other hand, there is an actual underlying threat, then that in itself is also hugely concerning."
Police are liaising with the schools and making further inquiries.
"Police extends thanks to the schools involved for following their emergency procedures, and to the wider school communities for their co-operation," a police spokesperson said.
