An armed police operation is under way in Ōtūmoetai, Tauranga.

A SunLive reader said armed police have surrounded a house on Ōtūmoetai Rd.

They said there were too many officers to count, and they had been there since about 5.30am.

The person said “they and other neighbours are in lockdown while police surround the unit next door”.

They said police have told them to stay away from their windows.

A police spokesperson said this morning’s operation was in relation to a “pre-planned warrant to locate a person of interest” regarding an incident last month.

Police did not find the person they were looking for and would be making further inquiries. They were speaking with another person at the address as part of this.

The spokesperson said no further information would be released to the public at this point.