Police: Hoax 111 call cost at least $10,000

File photo / NZ Herald

A massive police callout sparked by a hoax 111 call, involving allegations of serious child abuse, cost at least $10,000.

Police received the call about 11.30pm, with the alleged hoaxer saying she had witnessed two young children being assaulted by their parents at a house in Inch Clutha, about 80km southwest of Dunedin, earlier that evening, Acting Sergeant Craig Dinnissen told NZPA.

The caller said alcohol, drugs and an unsecured firearm were involved in the incident, Mr Dinnissen said.

"It was an extremely serious call."

The resulting callout, which involved at least 20 staff, from police, the armed offenders squad (AOS), ambulance and a local Child Youth and Family worker, lasted five hours and would have cost at least $10,000, he said.

Mr Dinnissen said charges would likely be laid this week against a 34-year-old Wanaka woman, who was spoken to just as the AOS were surrounding the house, where two four-year-olds were fast asleep.

"It would have been a harrowing experience for a couple of four-year-olds had the raid gone ahead," he said.

Police were "reasonably confident" the woman, who was related to the family who lived in the house at the centre of the call, was responsible for other hoax calls.

- NZPA