Arriving Auckland Airport passengers have been told they face a two-hour wait.

Passengers evacuated from international airport baggage hall after a passenger declared two World War II artillery shells at Customs.

A passenger arriving in New Zealand declared two WWII artillery shells at the arrivals hall of Auckland International Airport at 10.10pm, a police spokeswoman said.

UK Journalist Jamie Goode who arrived in New Zealand on Thursday night tweeted that passengers on his arriving 787 plane had been told they faced a two hour wait to get through customs.

123RF A suspicious item has been found in the baggage hall of Auckland International Airport (FILE PHOTO).

"Looks like we'll be moving soon though," he said.

Plane full of people arrives at immigration in #aucklandairport to be told we face a two hour wait because immigration has been closed because of an incident. Sounds worrying @FlyAirNZ — Jamie Goode (@jamiegoode) August 16, 2018

An Auckland airport spokeswoman said passengers arriving in New Zealand and airport staff had been evacuated to an upstairs area after a "suspicious article" was found.

She said the incident was "now in the hands of police".

A spokesman for Fire and Emergency NZ said two fire crews were at the airport to help police.

The New Zealand Defence Force Ordinance squad was also at the scene the police spokeswoman said.