A homeless man received a wake-up call from armed police in Gisborne late on Friday afternoon after someone reported what looked like a firearm on the ground next to him.
The Armed Offenders Squad cordoned off an area near the city port at about 4.45pm and moved in on the man, who was asleep in a bivouac he had built in an old cemetery.
The firearm was a toy AK 47 assault rifle.
Police say no offences were committed so no charges are being laid.
