In Dunedin, the police are searching for a man who led them in a high speed pursuit down the main street.
Dunedin's George Street. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
They were notified of a car driving erratically down George Street just before 10am today and gave chase.
The car was found abandoned just before noon and police surrounded the Botanic Gardens, near Otago University.
One eyewitness said an armed officer asked them to take cover.
A police spokesperson said while officers were armed, they had not called out the Armed Offenders Squad.