LATEST: A second search for a man seen carrying a rifle in Featherston has now been called off.
Wairarapa area commander Inspector Brent Register said police, including a dog handler, had once again failed to find any sign of suspicious activity, and were due to leave St Theresa's primary school at 3.45pm after parents had collected their children.
He said the second report of a sighting had come at 2.05pm, 15 minutes after the kids had been released into the playground, and appeared less credible than the first report.
Police with firearms and about six patrol cars surrounded the school.
Senior Sergeant Carolyn Watson of Masterton police said armed police and a dog handler initially responded to reports of a man carrying a rifle and wearing camouflage walking towards the town near the railway tracks near St Theresa's School in Featherston at 11am.
Inspector Ian Harris of Wellington communications said a group of children aged between 7-9 years reported the sighting to police.
Police searched the nearby area but failed to find anything suspicious and the search was called off just before 2pm.
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