Hawke’s Bay stand-off: Armed police stood down after failed search for person of interest in Whakatu

Police with guns near the cordon on Buckingham St, Whakatu. Photo / Michaela Gower

Armed police surrounded a home in Hawke’s Bay, and told one person they thought was inside to come out because “we have you surrounded”.

But that request, through a loudspeaker that rang out around Buckingham St at Whakatu today, proved to be in vain.

“Please exit to the back of the address. You are safe. We are not leaving,” neighbours said they heard the police negotiators call out from a van with the speaker on top.

It turned out the person had already exited.

At 2.58pm, a police spokesperson confirmed they had moved on and cordons had been stood down, with the decision made to focus their efforts to find the person elsewhere.

Cordons were put in place swiftly about 11am on Buckingham St and Ngaruroro Ave in Whakatu.

Police interest was initially focused on a home in Buckingham St.

By noon police were moving in, and they began to search the address with the help of police dogs.

But by 12.30pm, most of the police on the scene had shifted their focus to Essex St, a block away, before dispersing again.

Armed police had been at the scene since mid-morning. Photo / Michaela Gower

There was heavy rain in the small settlement north of Hastings, with outside temperatures a chilly 8C.

The people of Whakatu largely carried on with their day despite the disturbance, with a rubbish truck driver continuing his collection through the stand-off.

A staff member at nearby David Trubridge design studios said they noticed about 10 officers and seven patrol cars in the area from 10am, grouped at the Station Rd and Ngaruroro Rd intersection.

“A bunch of police cars and the K-9 unit and cops were all armed surrounding a house on Station Rd,” the staff member said.

Police had advised members of the public to avoid the area but had said there was no risk to the public.

The scene at Whakatu, Hawke's Bay. Photo / NZME

A police cordon in Whakatu, Hawke's Bay as police attempted to locate a person of interest. Photo / Michaela Gower