Waikato University's Tauranga campus reopens after bomb scare

Waikato University campus on Durham St was evacuated today after a threat was made. Photo / Andrew Warner

A threat that caused the evacuation of the University of Waikato's Tauranga campus did not involve a bomb, the university has clarified.

A university media spokesman initially told Newstalk ZB that "at 1.33pm today, a University of Waikato staff member was phoned by an unknown person who said there was a bomb on our Durham St, Tauranga campus.

"At 1.40pm the building was evacuated as per the normal procedure, and the university notified the police who are in attendance."

In a statement at 2.57pm, the university said the phone call was from a person who said there was a "security threat" on the campus.

"As further information has come to hand, we have learned the threat did not involve a bomb."

"The police have now cleared the Durham St Tauranga campus, and the building is now reopened."

Police received a report at 1.48pm of a threat made to a university campus in Tauranga and were making inquiries.

A witness said he arrived at the campus around 2.15pm while the police were at the scene. He was told to stay out of the building as they were in lockdown, he said.

"It was pretty intense."

He said there were several police cars outside and two police officers were searching the first floor when he arrived.

Most of the action was happening on the second floor, he said.