Northland police recover firearm involved in Ahipara gunman incident

Police roadblock in Takahe St, Ahipara. Photo / Peter Jackson

Police have recovered a firearm believed to have been used by a gunman at a Far North house, forcing a local school and daycare centre into lockdown.

The offender is still on the loose after the incident in Ahipara, Northland, yesterday morning.

No one was injured, police said, but they confirmed multiple shots were fired.

Ahipara School was locked down for several hours after the incident, posting on Facebook about 1pm that they were advised to do so by police.

Police were first notified of the incident at 10.30am after shots were fired at a property in Takahe Rd.

Police believed the alleged offender knew the house's occupants.

Detective Sergeant Mark Dalzell of Kaitaia Police said Northland police were following strong lines of enquiries as efforts continued to locate the male.

"As part of our enquiries, police have recovered a firearm which at this stage is believed to be the weapon involved in yesterday's incident," Dalzell said.

"It follows the recovery of a vehicle yesterday which was also involved in yesterday's incident."

Dalzell said police were appealing for the male involved to hand himself in.

The incident was the result of an ongoing dispute between individuals known to each other, he said, and there was no threat to the wider public.

Ahipara School principal Jackie Osborne told the Herald yesterday it was just another Monday for Ahipara School.

The children regularly practised the lockdown procedure so weren't in the least alarmed.

"They're not sure if it's a real emergency or a drill. They're all safe, and it's business as usual," she said.

Police found a vehicle believed to belong to the offender abandoned on Foreshore Rd, where he is thought to have fled on foot into the bush leading to the Ahipara Gumfields.