The police bomb squad is on its way back to Wellington after the owner of a suspicious suitcase turned up at Napier Library.
A cordon was set up by police on Station St restricting access to the area as the bomb squad travelled to Hawke's Bay by helicopter.
The library and nearby Inland Revenue building were evacuated and closed off.
The suitcase was discovered about 10.45am, and deemed "suspicious" after further inspection by police.
"Surveillance footage shows a young Asian lady came into the building about 9.40am, she was only inside for four and a half minutes, that's what makes it very strange, the short period that she was inside," Napier City Council CEO Wayne Jack said.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Hawkes Bay Today
'It hurts the people who are already grieving': Thousands worth of rebuild material stolen from Hawke's Bay school and pre-school
Nuhaka School and a pre-school on-site have suffered a series of break-ins and thefts.