A gun was thought to have been dumped in a garden after police rushed to a Tauranga Work and Income office following reports of an armed man in the area.
Police photographers had arrived to take photos of what was believed to be a gun dumped by a man allegedly seen carrying a rifle outside the office this morning.
Police responded to the reports of a gunman in the Courtney Rd area about 8.50am.
A reporter at the scene said about four to five police cars converged on the area and a police officer was standing guard over what appeared to be a rifle or rifle bag dumped in a flower bed outside a Courtney Rd property.
It was dumped about 200 metres from the Gate Pa Work and Income office.
It is understood police were speaking with a man.
Police inspector Andy Brill earlier said police were treating the matter with 'high priority'.
"This guy was seen carrying what was seen to be a firearm," Mr Brill said.
"It's in the vicinity of the Winz office and we are taking a good degree of interest around Winz."
