Police are investigating reports of an assault at the Bayfair Shopping Centre.

"Police believe the offender has left the mall area and we are making positive enquiries to locate them," says a police spokesperson.

"One person has been seriously injured."

"A person on a stretcher is being brought out of the mall entrance near ANZ," says a NZ Herald reporter.

The NZ Herald reporter says armed police are swarming the Mount Maunganui Bayfair mall.

"One shopper said on social media she was locked in a salon due to the incident."

“Omg locked in the salon due big stabbing incident in Countdown next door in Bayfair mall," says the shopper.

"Cops running round with big guns and other police and ambos here. In bloody Mt Maunganui!!! It’s happening all round the world!”

A St John spokesperson says they sent two ambulances and two managers to the Mount Maunganui mall at 4.40pm.

Police swarmed Bayfair tonight. Photo supplied.

At the scene?

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