Police storm Lower Hutt flats after overnight hostage drama

Armed police have stormed a Lower Hutt house at the centre of a hostage drama.

A 25-year-old woman has been taken into custody and another woman is being treated for minor injuries.

Police said the 25-year-old was allegedly holding the other woman hostage.

Explosions went off just before armed offenders squad officers stormed the house after a 12-hour siege.

A police spokeswoman said the explosion was a flashbang, used to temporarily disorient the offender so police could safely enter the flat.

The explosion smashed a front window at the house. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Police cordoned off the Kings Cres flats at 8pm yesterday, although police said there was no risk to the public.

Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace said the police handled the drama well.

"This was a serious situation but it's been handled well by the police. No one has been killed, which is good."

Neighbour Duleep Dasilver told Newstalk ZB this morning that police told him a hostage situation was unfolding at a set of flats inside the cordon.

Police have revealed they are dealing with a hostage situation in Lower Hutt. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

Dean Christie woke up this morning and saw the armed offenders squad surrounding a flat behind his house. He said there was a psych unit next to the flat, and wondered if any patients were involved.

Another neighbour said police hadn't told him anything. He woke up this morning and saw the cordons. He said he heard "noise" last night but thought it was drunk people walking past his house yelling.

Diversion from Kings Crescent due to police incident https://t.co/uNRfhpGaRc

— Metlink Wellington (@metlinkwgtn) August 16, 2017

Metlink said bus stops on Kings Cres were closed until further notice because of the operation.

Buses would be diverted down High St until the cordon was lifted.