New Zealand police said that on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, they were responding to an incident in Christchurch, where 50 people were killed in attacks by a lone gunman on two mosques in March, and asked people to avoid the area.

Police declined to comment on the nature of the incident in the Phillipstown area of the city on New Zealand's South Island and gave no further details.

New Zealand media said Christchurch police cordoned off streets in the Phillipstown area due to threats of the existence of an explosive device.  

Some residents were evacuated from nearby houses and were asked to leave the area.