UPDATE: Cordons have been lifted and police are no longer in the area of Bedford Place following an earlier lockdown.

Police were looking for a person with concerns for their welfare but that person has not been located and police are continuing their search through other avenues.

"The individual we were looking for was not found but we are making further inquiries to locate," says a police spokesperson.

Police had earlier told residents in the Arataki area to remain indoors, including those at a Boxing Day church service.

EARLIER: Police have blocked off roads and are asking residents to remain indoors in an area of Mount Maunganui as they attend to a "serious incident".

Bedford Place and Monowai Street are shut off whilst Mount Bible Chapel in Arataki has been locked down, according to a SunLive caller.

The area is cordoned off and police are at the scene.

Police at a cordon on Monowai St. Photo supplied.

A police spokesperson says that officers are currently in the area making inquiries to locate a person for whom they have welfare concerns and police are working to locate him safely.

'As a precaution, some people in the area have been asked to remain indoors,” says the spokesperson.

SunLive will continue to monitor the situation and update the story as more information becomes available.