Bomb threat response hailed

Police were called around 4.30pm on Tuesday after a call was made to campus reception. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua police have praised staff and students at Waiariki Institute of Technology for their fast response to a bomb threat on campus.

A threat was phoned in to the Mokoia Drive campus on Tuesday afternoon alleging there was a bomb at the site.

Staff called 111 and then initiated an evacuation of all buildings on campus to designated safe areas.

Rotorua police prevention manager Inspector Ed Van Den Broek said it was a "textbook" response and meant should there had been a bomb, staff and students were already off site.

"The recommended action [in a bomb threat situation] is to activate emergency evacuation procedures," Mr Van Den Broek said.

"Phone 111 and advise police of the fact there's been a bomb threat. Police will advise other emergency services. All of the buildings were evacuated as we didn't know if there was a bomb, how big it was or how much damage it would have caused had it exploded.

"The evacuation went well."

Police were called around 4.30pm on Tuesday after a call was made to campus reception. Mokoia Drive was cordoned off and staff and students walked to their designated meeting areas.

Mr Van Den Broek said police reviewed CCTV footage from the institute's reception and found no evidence of a bomb. Such threats were very unusual, he said.

"The people at Waiariki did really well. They evacuated appropriately and stayed calm, which is spot on."

He said police had all available staff at the scene. Staff and students were allowed back into the building after an hour to retrieve personal belongings.

Rotorua police are continuing to investigate the hoax call.