Police cars outside the Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo Youth Justice Facility, 6 February, 2023. Photo: Supplied/ NZ Herald - Sam Sherwood
A reporter said six police cars and one fire truck were at the scene and he could hear young people "yelling out to each other from inside the facility". He said there appeared to be at least two youths pacing on the facility's roof.
Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo was an Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children youth justice residence in Rolleston, Christchurch, with capacity for 40 young people.
The Herald had approached police, Fire and Emergency and Oranga Tamariki for information.
Police confirmed they had units at the facility and said they would issue a statement "when we have something to confirm".
Just after 11pm, the youths could still be heard talking from the facility, along with the occasional bark from a police dog.
* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.