Police cordons have now been lifted at Barrett Rd in Whakamarama after armed police swooped on the rural Tauranga area where explosions were heard this morning.
A police spokeswoman earlier said police and the Armed Offenders Squad were doing a search in the area, but would not release any further information.
A reporter at the scene said a couple of loud bangs that sounded like explosions were heard about 9.15am coming from behind the Whakamarama Superette, on the main highway between Tauranga and Katikati.