Police have revealed that a domestic incident was behind an operation that shut down a major state highway at around lunchtime.
A policeman directing traffic at the road block at Melling in the Lower Hutt. Photo: RNZ / Eric Frykberg
During the operation, State Highway 2 in the Hutt Valley was blocked by armed police for several kilometres between Melling and the Kennedy Good Bridge.
It remained shut for over half an hour.
Lower Hutt police later revealed they were concerned for the safety of a woman at a house on a small road parallel to the motorway.
The woman has been spoken to and was unhurt.
Police said they feared a firearm might have been involved, which was why an armed officer attended, but no gun was later found.
Further details are unavailable, and the incident is still being investigated.
