Police outside Waitakere Hospital. Photo: Finn Blackwell
One person has been arrested after what appeared to be a gun in a bag was found in an ambulance at an Auckland hospital.
Waitākere Hospital was briefly put into lockdown just after 1pm, a police spokesperson said.
"Police received a report of a person alone inside an ambulance parked at Waitākere Hospital with a possible firearm."
Ambulance staff had noticed what looked like a "possible firearm" while transporting the person, the spokesperson said.
An eyewitness told RNZ they saw at least three officers, two of whom appeared to be armed, running toward the staff carpark of the hospital.
Flight-tracking sites also showed the presence of a police helicopter circling the region on Thursday afternoon.
Staff at the hospital said they had been given an all-clear about 2pm.
During the lockdown, Te Whatu Ora said it worked closely with St John to make sure patients were diverted to North Shore Hospital for care.
"The matter is being managed by NZ police," it said.
Police said the person was taken into custody without issue.
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