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.
