Hostage incident ends, man arrested

A man who was allegedly holding a woman hostage in a car west of Auckland has been arrested.

Gunshots were heard by Newstalk ZB's reporter at the scene, but police say although they used force, no live rounds were fired.

The Armed Offenders Squad used a distraction device and police dogs to bring him into custody.

A woman who was being hostage in the car has been rescued unharmed. The man told police there was also a child under the age of two in the car, but that has proved untrue.

Nearly three hours of negotiations failed to convince the man to give himself up.

The trouble began when the man was followed by police along Lincoln Road in Henderson earlier today.

Meanwhile the road closures have been frustrating local residents.

Noel Foster lives on blocked-off Kennedy Road, just off State Highway 16. He says his wife has been forced to miss a scheduled hospital appointment because police would not let him home to pick her up.

Mr Foster says he has been stuck at an intersection for three hours and police will not let anyone into the street unless it is a life-threatening situation.

- NEWSTALK ZB