Hostage drama ends peacefully

Upper Hutt hostage situation has ended.

Armed offenders squad members were called to a house in Upper Hutt following reports of a domestic incident earlier this evening.

A police central communications centre spokesman said armed police and other police personnel cordoned off commercial and private residences in the Gibbons St area after arriving at the scene this afternoon.

Four roads were closed off and police were urging people in dwellings near the scene to stay indoors.

A staff member at nearby Gillies and Mark Real Estate said police had asked everyone inside to stay until the situation had been resolved.

Customers and staff at a nearby Pak 'N Save supermarket were also understood to have been stuck inside while the stand-off continued.

- NZPA, Newstalk ZB