Armed police swarm Waihi

Members of the police Armed Offender Squad gather outside a property in Princes St, Waihi this afternoon. Photo/supplied

A large group of about 30 armed offenders squad members are reported to have gathered near the Waihi hospital.

Waihi resident Sonja Ireland said she noticed the police helicopter circling around the college about 2.30pm.

She checked Facebook to find other residents saying their streets had been blocked off and armed offenders had surrounded a house on Savage Rd.

Another resident told NZME the armed offenders were currently gathered near the hospital.

A police spokeswoman said officers were in the process of a search warrant operation.

''We can't say anything right now as the warrant is still being carried out and we are still in an operation mode,'' she said.

The woman said a media release would be issued an about an hour.