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Police are investigating a possible shot fired at one of their patrol cars in Wairoa last night.
In a statement, police said they were responding to a breach of the peace in Churchill Avenue, Wairoa at about 10.30pm and while there, a headlight on a patrol car was damaged.
Police said they had reason to believe a shot was fired at the vehicle from a local residence, and cordoned off the area.
Two people were arrested when they attempted to leave the cordon, and a firearm was seized from the vehicle.
A 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old man are due to appear in Gisborne District Court on Monday facing charges in relation to the incident.
A search warrant was obtained for a property of interest in the avenue and it was searched with the support of Armed Offenders Squad personnel.
Police said enquiries are ongoing.
Wairoa has been [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/484465/wairoa-residents-still-coming-to-terms-with-destruction-of-cyclone-gabrielle one of the most badly affected areas in Cyclone Gabrielle.'
"While a lot of attention has been on the police response to Cyclone Gabrielle, some people forget that our 'business as usual' response to offending hasn't stopped during the fortnight since the cyclone," Tairāwhiti Police Area Commander Inspector Sam Aberahama said in a statement.
"I'm always impressed with the resilience of our team, many of whom have been personally affected by the cyclone and ongoing weather events, all of whom have the safety of their communities at the front of their mind when they come into work."