Palmerston North siege: Primary and kindy aged reunited with parents

Police on the scene in the Cloverlea area of Palmerston North after the driver of a car fled police earlier today. Photo / Alecia Rousseau

Primary and kindy aged children have been reunited with parents amidst a hunt for an armed man.

Loud bangs were heard in Palmerston North this afternoon when armed police stormed a house as they searched for the fleeing offender.

A police spokewoman confirmed that all children from Cloverlea Primary School and Cloverlea Kindergarten had been safely evacuated by bus.

Parents were advised to collect their children from Highbury Whanau Centre on Highbury Rd.

An NZME journalist reported that police called parents into the centre hall about 6pm.

Police said they were "doing their best to resolve the incident, but it's not clear when that will be."

Parents were told arranging alternative sleeping arrangements wouldn't be a bad idea.

"It could be a long night."

Police were searching houses on Geraldine Cres.

They were also ringing each house to ask how many people were inside and if there were any animals, according to a resident on the street.

Residents had become frustrated. More than 100 people were standing in the carpark of Cloverlea Tavern, but police were letting no one enter the cordoned area.

Loud bangs were heard in Palmerston North this afternoon when armed police stormed a house as they searched for the fleeing offender. Photo / Alecia Rousseau

"You can get out but you can't get in," the NZME journalist reported.

Earlier this afternoon Cloverlea School, Cloverlea Kindergarten and Somerset Crescent School were in lockdown.

At around 4.50pm children at Cloverlea School and Cloverlea Kindergarten were loaded onto two white coaches driven by police.

The wanted man evaded police during a high speed pursuit this morning.

The police spokeswoman said the pursuit started at 10.45am after an attempt was made to stop a car.

The driver, who was known to police and had warrants for his arrest, fled the scene in a grey Mazda.

A cordon had be put in place in Peters Ave and spikes had been laid on the road.

A special tactical unit van had been parked outside Cloverlea dairy and police were speaking to members of the public.

There were visible skid marks outside the dairy where a car had mounted the curb.