A piece of military ordnance discovered by house movers under a central Hamilton home today has been declared harmless by explosive experts.
Shift Manager, Senior Sergeant Andrew O'Reilly, said police were called to Willoughby St about 10.40am after workmen discovered a mortar bomb.
Police set up a cordon and evacuated local residents.
"An Auckland-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the New Zealand Defence Force were called in to expect the device and declared the bomb inert and the area safe about 2.15pm.''
Mr O'Reilly said police had no doubt local residents, motorists, child care centres and a local school were inconvenienced by the road closures and evacuations, but in such situations emergency services have no option but to take precautionary measures.
"We have to prepare for the worst to prevent injury or death. Thankfully this wasn't the case in this situation, and the matter was able to be resolved without incident.''