A suspicious item sparked the evacuation of Tauranga Port this morning and a call-out for police and the Defence Force.
A routine x-ray of a container at the port this morning showed an item that appeared to be a grenade.
By afternoon, the Defence Force had confirmed the item was a realistic looking replica German stick grenade.
This replica grenade scare comes after the Armed Offenders Squad were called to Papamoa for a man allegedly holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle.
The man, in his 30s, was arrested on January 15 after armed police responded to several phone calls about a male carrying a long-barrelled gun along Range Rd towards Evans Rd, and shots fired.
Police said when the man was located in Evans Rd, he was holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle M4 and another was strapped to his back.
The weapons turned out to be paintball guns.
The man will appear in court next month, charged with discharging a firearm in and near a dwelling, and possession of firearm.
