Rotorua court house in lockdown after telephoned gun threat

The Rotorua court house was put into lockdown this afternoon after a caller telephoned an implied gun threat, police say.

Police were notified about 4.10pm that the Rotorua District Court had gone into lockdown following a verbal threat being received. Armed police were sent as a precaution.

Rotorua police acting area commander Inspector Phil Taikato told the Rotorua Daily Post at the scene a telephoned implied gun threat had been made to the court.

He said police were treating it as a sensitive situation until they got to the bottom of the case.

Police took threats seriously and had responded accordingly.

Taikato said there was no threat to the public.

An earlier statement from a police spokeswoman said police found nothing of concern.

There was nothing to suggest any connection to an earlier incident at Wellington District Court.

A reporter at the scene said earlier she could see two armed police officers standing in front of the court house doors.

Police officers outside the Rotorua court house. Photo / Ben Fraser

She said there were also five police cars.

Lakes Care Pharmacy assistant Anne Cranston said it made her nervous to see armed police.

The pharmacy is opposite the court house.

She said she noticed the officer with a gun when she took the rubbish out.

Two armed police stand guard outside the Rotorua court house. Photo / Ben Fraser

The reporter said bystanders, including school children, are standing around the entrance.

Police can be seen through the window of the top floor of the court house.

Deirdre Williams is on holiday from Perth and stopped when she saw the armed police.

She had been in New Zealand for the past 12 days visiting family.

Williams was on her way to dinner when she saw all the police cars and initially assumed it was the police station with all the marked cars.