Man arrested after pulling gun in Tauranga Hospital

A man is in police custody after he allegedly produced a gun in a doctor's office at Tauranga Hospital today.

Police said hospital staff alerted them at 3.19pm and a short time later the doctor left the office, telling them the gun was real and the man was very upset.

Staff and patients were evacuated from the hospital's mental health unit and surrounding buildings.

Armed cordons were placed around the hospital building Jacaranda House and five streets were blocked off.

Police negotiators contacted the man by telephone who gave himself up at 4.41pm.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner of Tauranga police said a 36-year-old man was being interviewed and a firearm had been recovered.

He said the incident caused significant traffic delays .

Hospital spokeswoman Carol Wollaston told NZPA about 100 staff, herself included, were evacuated from four buildings which mostly housed administration personnel.

She said the only impact on patients was that a few were unable to access their vehicles in a carpark, which was occupied by police.

The main hospital remained open and emergency services were unaffected, she said.

- NZPA