SH36 reopened after armed police search property near Rotorua

Tauranga Direct Rd, SH36, has reopened after armed police diverted traffic this morning.

A police spokeswoman said the armed offenders squad helped officers on a search warrant from 6.30am.

"AOS assisted as a precaution. The road was closed for a time but reopened around 8am."

No one was arrested.

Several police officers, including one with a gun, cars, a police dog and two people in boiler suits were seen at the property, on the Tauranga side of Kaharoa Rd.

Rotorua's Don Paterson was heading to Tauranga this morning and just before he reached Kaharoa he passed an ambulance heading into Rotorua.

He said he saw what he believed were about five members of the armed offenders squad on the side of the road kitted out in black uniforms and fully armed.

Paterson said several police vehicles were in the driveway.

Kaharoa resident Sue Bedford said traffic was being diverted down Jackson Rd, near Hamurana.

She said her daughter and son bus to school in Tauranga and they managed to get through when the road was open, rather than divert via Te Puke.

The NZ Transport Agency's website did not list the road closure.

This afternoon a police spokeswoman said "as inquiries are ongoing we won't be providing further details at this stage".