UPDATE 4:40: Police can confirm one person is in custody after the Tauranga Hospital incident.

Police are no longer in attendance.

Tauranga Hospital has returned to normal operational status as suspect is detained.

Police have confirmed that the suspect being sought in relation to the incident which caused Tauranga Hospital to be locked down today has been apprehended and is in custody.

As a result, the hospital has now been returned to a normal operational state with normal services being resumed.

UPDATE 2PM: Lockdown protocols remains in place at Tauranga Hospital following a threatening phone call today.

The hospital has gone from a full lockdown to a partial one, says a spokesperson in an update this afternoon.

"The safety of our staff and patients remains our primary concern. The hospital has gone from a full to a partial lockdown state.

"This means controlled access for staff (via swipe cards) and vetting of patients and whānau prior to entry will be in operation until further notice."

The hospital says patients should attend at their scheduled appointment times. They will be vetted on arrival before being allowed access.

Staff should continue to come into work for their shifts as normal and carry their ID cards when doing so.

Police have requested that staff and members of the public remain vigilant and report anyone acting strangely, either to an onsite police or security team member, or by calling police on 111.

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"The hospital Incident Operations Centre Incident Management Team (IOC IMT) will also remain in place until the situation is resolved."

EARLIER:

Tauranga Hospital is currently in lockdown after receiving a threatening phone call.

"Police were made aware of the call and are present onsite," says a statement from the hospital.

"The hospital has been locked down as a precaution.

The incident is currently being investigated.

"The hospital will remain in lockdown until it is resolved.

"A hospital Incident Operations Centre Incident Management Team (IOC IMT) has being stood up whilst the situation is resolved."

The Emergency Department remains open and patients who have appointments at the hospital should still attend at their scheduled time, says a hospital spokesperson.

"There are no further updates available at this time.

"We will provide an update once more information becomes available."

A witness, who is inside the hospital, says she was visiting her mother when she went to go to the cafe and couldn't get through.

"The police are not allowing any public movement within the hospital. No one's allowed inside, and once you leave, you can't come back in.

"The nurse said someone has made a threat to the hospital why the police are here and armed."

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