A man has been arrested after a Paihia supermarket employee was held at knifepoint during a robbery this morning.
Police said the man went into the Four Square store at about 10.30am today demanding money.
Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said most staff and customers fled, but the man held a woman working at the store hostage with a knife to her throat.
He said officers negotiated with the man for about half an hour.
"They were able to get the man to surrender himself without causing any further injury to anyone involved."
Mr Robinson said the woman was treated at the scene for some cuts to her neck but was otherwise unhurt.
He said they were talking to the man now but had not laid charges yet.
