A man has been taken into custody after armed police swarmed a Christchurch suburb on Thursday evening.
Newshub's photos from the scene show police on Charles Street in Waltham. Two locals said police told them there was a man with a gun on the loose.
"Armed police are currently responding to an incident in Waltham, where they are working to take a person of interest into custody," a police spokesperson said.
In an update later on Thursday, police said they arrested the man who had a number of warrants to arrest and had allegedly fled from police earlier in the evening.
"It was believed that the man may have had a firearm, so armed police responded as a precaution," the spokesperson said.
The Police Negotiation Team assisted in taking the man into custody.
As a precaution, police engaged with neighbouring addresses to ensure they were kept safe. They said no one was injured.
Police will have a presence in the area following the arrest but reassured there is no ongoing risk to the public.
"We thank Waltham residents for their understanding and cooperation," police said.
