Police negotiate as bomb standoff continues

Prime Minister Helen Clark, campaigning in Auckland today, has been informed of reports the man wants to speak to her. Phil Walter / Getty Images

TAURANGA - Tauranga police may have to call in reinforcements as a standoff with a man threatening to blow himself up in a Tauranga city hotel shows no sign of being resolved.

The 57-year-old Slovakian man arrived at Devonport Towers hotel about 11am wearing a backpack and carrying two large suitcases.

He tried to book a room at the hotel but was turned away by staff, Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Gary Smith told reporters at the scene.

The man managed to get into a room in the hotel and told a female staff member he wanted to take his own life. The man then told police he had a bomb, Mr Smith said.

A three-block radius around the hotel was cordoned off and thousands of city workers evacuated from office buildings and shops. Police had a number of negotiators who were talking to the man, he said.

"We don't know exactly why he's doing it, it's early days at the moment. We are negotiating with him and trying to bring this to a satisfactory resolution."

Police were taking the threat very seriously, Mr Smith said.

"We've brought in some highly trained staff to deal with this."

The armed offenders squad, the bomb disposal squad and other emergency services have been on stand-by since this morning. Police even called in fisheries officers and private security guards to help staff the 200 sq m cordon.

Mr Smith said he was unsure how long the man had been in New Zealand but did not believe he had any previous dealings with police.

Hundreds of people unable to get to their workplaces gathered around the edges of the cordoned area, with many taking advantage of the bars that line the waterfront area.

Police have refused to confirm reports the man asked to speak to Prime Minister Helen Clark.

However, Helen Clark told reporters today she had been briefed on the incident. She had not been told officially that the man wanted to talk to her but had received reports that was the case.

Helen Clark also had not received advice the man's demands were of a political nature and said it was possible he was simply a disgruntled individual.

The man had been living at Harbourside Backpackers in central Tauranga for the past few months, his flatmate, Matthew Ham, told NZPA.

Mr Ham said the man had been living in New Zealand for the past four years studying natural health and his student visa had expired.

The man wanted to remain in New Zealand but had several visa requests denied by the Immigration Service, his flatmate said.

"He's been writing letters for days, weeks. He just wants to stay here.

"'He's a nice guy. This is just crazy."

- NZPA