Meanwhile, State Highway 1 near Riverlands, Blenheim in the South Island is closed following a police operation.
NZ Transport Agency is reporting the road is closed between Malthouse Rd and Cloudy Bay Rd and motorists are asked to follow the directions of emergency services.
Stuff reports the closure was forced by a police chase which ended when the fleeing driver attempted to get into a police car.
Witnesses said they saw police pointing a gun at a man while he was getting out of their vehicle on SH1.
SH1 RIVERLANDS, MARLBOROUGH - POLICEINCIDENT - 4:15PM Due to a police incident, the road is now CLOSED between Malthouse Road and Cloudy Bay Road. Please follow directions of emergency services on-site and delay your journey, if possible. ^EH pic.twitter.com/0mijhzudkw
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Top of the South (@WakaKotahiTotS) July 28, 2019