Cordon in place around Mamaku Village

3:45 PM - Rotorua Police are asking members of the public to avoid the Mamaku Village area, located north of Rotorua, off State Highway 5. This is due to a Police cordon in the area, allowing a search for a 35 year old Mamaku man, whom Police have concerns for.

Rotorua Police say they were contacted at approximately 12 noon today (Thursday 12 August) by a family member.

Area Tactical Response Manager, Acting Inspector Brent Crowe, says the family member had concerns for the man's emotional wellbeing.

Inspector Crowe says this, combined with the possibility that the man may have access to firearms, prompted Police to immediately deploy to the area in an effort to locate him.

Inspector Crowe says members of the Rotorua Armed Offenders Squad have now also been deployed to the area.

"Our current focus is to locate the man and at this time, while we do not have any specific safety concerns for others in the area, these precautionary steps have been taken."