A quiet Bay of Islands road was the scene of a major bomb alert yesterday when a lethal home-made pipe bomb was found in the boot of a car.
Police were forced to seal off a rural Waitangi road for more than six hours while bomb disposal experts were sent in from Auckland to disarm it.
The 36-year-old driver of the car, described as transient, has been arrested and faces a raft of charges.
The pipe bomb and an axe were found in the boot of a Holden Commodore after it was stopped about 10.30am as part of a routine police check.
Acting Far North Area Commander Senior Sergeant Gordon Gunn said a New Zealand Defence Force Bomb Disposal Unit was alerted, and Tau Henare Dr. and Bayly Rd cordoned off.
The Auckland bomb disposal unit arrived at the scene near the Waitangi Golf Club at about 5.30pm and confirmed it was a home-made "improvised explosive device" (IED).
A robot was used to help disable the bomb, which was then made safe before a thorough check of the vehicle was carried out.
Other bomb-making materials were found in the car.
Mr Gunn said the explosive was about 30cm long and 5-7cm in diameter.
"I wasn't prepared to have a tutu with it - that's what the experts are there for."
A police cordon would remain in place while the scene was cleared and the vehicle secured, he said.
The vehicle was to be taken to a secure location for forensic examination today.
The driver was to appear in Kaikohe District Court today on charges of possessing an offensive weapon (an axe), possessing a substance believed to be pure methamphetamine, and charges that relate to the IED and additional explosive materials.
The man was believed to be a regular traveller between Auckland and Northland.
Rural Waitangi road sealed off in explosives drama
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