The cordons between Rutherford Street and Van Diemen Street in Nelson, as police deal with a suspicious item left at a Waimea Road address.
Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
Several South Nelson homes have been evacuated on Thursday evening after police were notified earlier of a suspicious item at a Waimea Road property.
Police were called at 5.20pm and told about a suspicious item found in Nelson and an alleged threat being made.
A cordon was set up and a New Zealand Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team called to assess the item.
Police said a number of homes in the area, including a section of Waimea Road and Renwick Place, had been evacuated as a precaution.
Anyone who is affected can go to Victory Community Centre at 2 Totara Street in Nelson South which has been set up as a temporary evacuation centre.
Deputy Mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens is urging caution.
“Those who need or who have needed to evacuate have been told directly, but really it’s about keeping out of the area, letting the response take place, trying to be cautious or courteous with some of the impacts on traffic that we’re seeing.”
O’Neill-Stevens said Waimea Road was a main thoroughfare and earlier the traffic was backed up.
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