New Plymouth Rap Collective NNB, from left, Asher Vallen, aka Oosh Nugs, Kalam Munro, aka Green Lants, Isaac Looker, aka Nyung Blung, and Sam Boon were stunned to be surrounded by armed police while making a rap video on Wednesday.

Four members of New Plymouth Rap Collective NNB found themselves staring down the barrel of police firearms on Wednesday while shooting a music video.

About 12pm officers armed with Bushmaster rifles and Glock pistols converged on the area around Katere Rd, Egmont Rd and Hurlstone Dr, Waiwhakaiho, while patrol cars were stationed at nearby intersections.

Police were alerted by a member of the public who saw a group park near the fertiliser works and walk off carrying what appeared to be a concealed weapon, thinking it could be related to the manhunt in the Central North Island where shots were fired at officers.

Robert Charles/Fairfax NZ Armed police searched the area around the old fertiliser works at Waiwhakaiho on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Shots fired at police in central North Island

Isaac Looker, aka Nyung Blung, said he was shocked when armed police arrived.

"We were filming the shot, we were probably halfway through the song and then I turned around and saw two cops, then I saw four cops and then I saw semi-automatic machine guns," Looker said.

Asher Vallen, aka Oosh Nugs, said he was performing at the time.

"It was so cool, I was just rapping to the camera and then there was this cop pointing this big semi-automatic machine gun, that was rad," Vallen said.

"We were not expecting cops pointing semi-automatic weapons at us."

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The group were told to stop filming before being asked what they were up to and if they had any weapons.

Looker said they explained they were making a music video and had a samurai sword.

Sam Boon went to pick up the sword to show police.

"They said 'no, don't touch anything'," Boon said.

"I have never seen them with their machine guns out before."

Boon hoped the unexpected footage would add some hype to the video.

"I filmed the whole thing, I told them I turned it off but I didn't. It will make the video better.

"It was cool, it was a rush."

Kalam Munro, aka Green Lants, was surprised by all the drama.

"We were doing nothing illegal, we were just making music," he said.

Looker said they had chosen the fertiliser works as a back drop because it was an iconic landmark.

"We liked this because it is dirty, filthy, grimy and gritty but it's real.

"Everyone has seen it and it's a decaying mess but it's still beautiful some how."

He said they wanted to make a video with a Taranaki flavour to help get people behind them and to come along to gigs.

"The video is about being from New Plymouth and rapping but still being real, not faking it and acting like you are from America."

Looker said they may have been reported to police because they fitted the profile.

"We haven't had haircuts for a while, so people don't trust us."

Boon said the police were really reasonable and understanding once the situation had been explained to them.

Sergeant Bruce Irvine said police needed to treat the report seriously.

"Police have responded appropriately, which included being armed. But it turned out it was some youngsters making a video," Irvine said.

Looker said the music video, Pigeon Coops, which featured Oosh Nugs and Green Lants would be available on SoundCloud and YouTube later this week.