Man brandishing tomahawk arrested

A man brandishing a tomahawk and a boning knife was arrested in Taranaki this morning by armed police.

Police were alerted to the incident in Patea, about 6okm north-west of Wanganui, at approximately 6am.

Sergeant Ivan Smith told NZPA that the 60-year-old man was allegedly trying to enter a house and acting threateningly with a tomahawk and a large boning knife.

Armed police challenged the man who then discarded his weapons and was arrested.

He is now in custody and facing two charges of possession of weapons and possible drugs offences.

- NZPA