A Christchurch man said it was "so scary" when he came across "heaps of police with long firearms" on his way home from work.
Earlier this afternoon, police received information a person in Wainoni, east Christchurch was illegally in possession of a firearm.
In response, police cordoned off a section of Wainoni to locate the person involved.
A witness told the Herald he saw "heaps of police with long firearms" surrounding a house in Wainoni this afternoon where "two police cars had cordoned Shortland St in front of Bates Joinery".