Man charged over Catlins armed police callout

Police were called about 6pm yesterday after reports that a male and a female in possession of a firearm had entered the empty Tautuku Lodge in South Otago. Photo / File

A man is facing several charges following an incident at the Tautuku Lodge in the Catlins, which involved armed police overnight.

The 20-year-old was due to appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow and has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and burglary.

As the matter was now before the courts, police said they could not make any further comment today.

Police were called about 6pm yesterday after reports that a male and a female in possession of a firearm had entered the empty Tautuku Lodge in South Otago.

The police armed offenders squad and a dog team were deployed and a convoy of police vehicles, accompanied by an ambulance, headed to the area from Dunedin at high speed.

Police last night declined to give further details because of operational reasons, and would not say whether the callout involved a domestic incident, or if a hostage was involved, and said there was no car chase.

Early this morning, police said cordons had been placed along the Chaslands Highway to stop traffic travelling through the area early.

A little later, a Southern District Command Centre spokesman said a 20-year-old man and 15-year-old girl had been removed from the address, with no issues, about 8am.

The cordons have since been lifted.