Man charged after gun seen in schools, hospital

An armed incident is under way in Tokoroa.

A man brandishing a gun has wandered through two schools and into a hospital this morning, before being arrested.

The Armed Offenders Squad from Rotorua was called in after teachers and students of Tokoroa Intermediate and Tokoroa High School reported seeing a man walking through the school grounds with a pistol.

The man then walked into the grounds of Tokoroa Hospital and into an office in a stand alone building, Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry of Tokoroa CIB said.

"Armed police quickly surrounded the building and discreetly removed all the staff...," Mr Verry said.

"After a short period of speaking with the suspect over a loud speaker he came out of the building and was arrested without incident."

Police have not found the weapon and have asked residents to check their properties for a black air pistol. They are checking rubbish bins and street drains in the area.

Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry said the incident happened after an altercation on Clyde St in Tokoroa.

A person was approached by a group in a car and an altercation took place.

Police were called to Clyde St but the car had left by the time they arrived.

A short time later the car entered Tokoroa Intermediate by the back entrance on Billah St.

The alleged gun man is believed to have been in the car.

A 34-year-old Tokoroa man has been charged with unlawful possession of an air rifle.

Meantime police have arrested a man who allegedly waved a firearm around in central Christchurch.

Sergeant Barry Hansen said a man had been seen with the firearm in the residential area of Cashel Street about midday.

The Armed Offenders Squad were sent out and the man had been arrested, he said.

- With NZPA