"The police were there on an unrelated matter, doing something else when he saw them and panicked. He wasn't committing any offence at all. He had done nothing wrong. You are allowed to walk down the street with your slug gun, if you are old enough. It's only an offence if you have the intention to use it for an unlawful purpose and this man didn't," Mr Lyttle said.
"It is an unfortunate set of circumstances."
Courtney Rd resident Shirley Kristensen said she and her husband were shocked to see all the police cars park in front of their property.
"It's a bit scary, we were a little bit worried, especially with what happened at Work and Income and we have a Work and Income down the road now." The slug gun was discarded in a garden bordering her property.
Mr Lyttle said the police response was heavier than usual because of heightened awareness following last week's tragic shootings in Ashburton.
"There are people working in these Government departments who are anxious and we are totally aware of that and the level of anxiousness relating to their jobs," Mr Lyttle said.
"So any jobs we get involving these departments are dealt with seriously. We provide as much support as we can."
Ministry of Social Development spokesman Simon King confirmed the man with the slug gun was near Work and Income office but the office remained open, except for between 12pm to 1pm when staff in offices throughout New Zealand honoured their fallen colleagues.
Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett said there were now at least two guards stationed at each Work and Income office in the country.
The incident was one of two firearm alerts in Tauranga within several hours. Inspector Ian Brooker said police received a call from someone concerned a man was carrying a gun on 5th Ave. Police responded but found the man was holding a cigarette lighter, Mr Brooker said.
