An armed man walked into a Hastings dairy and demanded money from a "terrified" shop worker, sparking a frenetic police response and short school and hospital lockdowns.
Police were called to the attempted armed theft at Kiwi Street Foodmarket on Kiwi St, Camberley, about 11.29am on Thursday.
At least two schools in the vicinity, as well as Hawke's Bay Hospital, were put into a precautionary lockdown as the armed man fled the scene.
A Kiwi Street Foodmarket spokesman said a man armed with a gun entered the store where a female employee was working alone.