The bomb squad was called to Taupō's police station after a piece of historic military equipment was brought to police.
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Police said a member of the public brought a piece of historic military equipment to the station at about 1.15pm.
As a result, the station and surrounding buildings on Story Place in Taupō were evacuated.
The bomb squad arrived shortly after 9pm and made the item safe, cordons were now also lifted.
Among those evacuated is the Lake Taupō Rotary Club, where Rose Mary Crisp is the secretary.
"A police office went over and said that the rotary had to be evacuated and it would be cordoned off for the rest of the day, plus the squad came down from Auckland to investigate a mystery package."
She said the club had to move its evening meeting to a Taupō restaurant.
It was the second time a piece of military equipment has caused an evacuation at the station in the past few months, she said.