It is understood police have apprehended a person during an armed police call out in Owaka.
The armed offenders squad has been stood down after an operation in the South Otago town, focused on a property diagonally opposite the town's police station.
A uniformed police officer was seen carrying a rifle from the property about 12.30pm.
Officers were talking with a woman outside the property.
A nearby shop owner told the Otago Daily Times she had been called by officers to say it was okay to open her store again, as they had apprehended someone, after earlier being told to lock her doors and keep any customers inside.
Road blocks stopping traffic using the Papatowai Highway through the centre of the town were lifted about 12.10pm.