Cordons have been lifted and residents allowed to return to their homes after an emergency in Westmere this afternoon.
A young man is understood to have been taken away from a property on Watt Livingston Road.
Police have yet to offically confirm what happened.
Police put up a cordon around a northern Whanganui intersection shortly after midday.
An officer told a Westmere resident the incident on Watt Livingstone Road was "serious".
An ambulance, fire engine and multiple police cars attended the scene.
The cordon took in Watt Livingstone Rd and Stanley Rd, and the roads were blocked off at State Highway 3 and Rapanui Road.
The resident, who did not wish to be named, said his daughter-in-law who also lived on the road had left her property because she was worried about what was happening and came to stay with him and his wife.
She was told by police at her gateway the incident was "serious".
The man said there had been a lot of police activity on the road, which started about 12.30pm.
He didn't want to speculate what had happened.
"They are all good people who live on this road."
A police spokesman confirmed an incident was unfolding but said few details were being released.
"All I can confirm at this time is that police are responding to an incident in Westmere.
"No further information is available at this time."
A resident who was turned away at the cordon was told by police "someone they were interested in" was at an address on the road.
He said police could be seen at a large white house on a hill.
"I don't if they are interested in that house or just talking to the people there."
A reader told the Chronicle that cordons were lifted around 4pm.