UPDATED 10.44am: Western Bay of Plenty police have seized a slug gun and carry case dumped after a 'high priority' call out to a Work and Income office this morning.
Area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police responded to a report of a man carrying a firearm on Courtney Rd at 8.50am and found a 29-year-old man in the area.
A slug gun in a carry case was also located.
Mr Paxton said the man told police he had the slug gun in his possession with the intention to sell it.
No threats were made to anyone in the vicinity, including those in a nearby Winz office.
The male was being spoken to by police on unrelated matters, Mr Paxton said.
Whilst in this case there appears to be no link to recent issues involving threats to Work and Income agencies, police continue to work with these agencies in a pro-active way and will take swift and decisive action to any perceived threats to safety, he said.
10.02am: Police have now removed an alleged 'gun' from the garden where it was allegedly dumped after reports of a man carrying a rifle in the area of a Tauranga Work and Income office this morning.
A reporter at the scene spoke to police removing the item shortly after the incident this morning.
Police responded in 'high priority' about 8.50am when a man was reported to be carrying a gun in the area of the Courtney St Winz office.
The Gate Pa WINZ office
Winz spokesman Simon King said the man did not enter but was within the vicinity of the office.
Police inspector Andy Brill said police responded with 'high priority' because of the Winz link.
It is understood police have spoken to a man in relation to the incident this morning.
Staff at the Winz office declined to talk to media this morning but the office appeared to still be operating.
Winz offices around New Zealand are expected to close for an hour today to mark the tragic killing of two Winz staff members in Ashburton 10 days ago.
Peggy Noble and Leigh Cleveland were allegedly shot by a gunman who entered the office.
It's in the vicinity of the Winz office and we are taking a good degree of interest around Winz.
9.25am: Police photographers have just arrived to take photos of what is believed to be a gun dumped by a man seen carrying a rifle outside a Tauranga Winz office this morning.
Police responded to reports of the gunman in the Courtney Rd area about 8.50am and treated the incident with 'high priority' because of the Winz link.
A reporter at the scene said about four to five police cars converged on the area and a police officer was now standing guard over what appeared to be a rifle or rifle bag dumped in a flower bed outside a Courtney Rd property.
Police converged on a Courtney Rd residence after what is believed to be a rifle was dumped by an offender.Photo/John Borren
A neighbour said she had no idea what had happened.
The alleged gun was dumped about 200m from the Gate Pa Winz office.
EARLIER: Police have rushed to a Tauranga Winz office this morning following a report of a man carrying a gun in the area.
Police inspector Andy Brill said police were treating the matter with 'high priority'.
''This guy was seen carrying what was seen to be a firearm,'' Mr Brill said.
