Inspector Jason Guthrie speaks to media after a woman was found dead at a Dunedin house.

A 53-year-old woman has been found dead in a house north of Dunedin, with another man discovered critically injured in a nearby reserve.

Residents say the peaceful seaside village of Seacliff, about 30 kilometres north of Dunedin, is in shock following the discoveries on Tuesday.

Armed police swarmed the settlement after an emergency call was made about 8.20am.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police at a cordoned off scene at Seacliff, near Dunedin.

Otago Coastal area commander Inspector Jason Guthrie said officers discovered the critically injured 59-year-old man in the Truby King Reserve.

"Soon after [finding the man] police conducted inquiries at a nearby address and in one of the addresses they located a deceased female."

"Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances and that investigation is obviously in its very early stages," Guthrie said.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police on Coast Rd, Seacliff.

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The woman lived locally and Guthrie said the incident was "unexpected and tragic".

"I'd like to reassure the local community that people are able to go about their business and police are currently not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident," Guthrie said.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police cordon a scene at Seacliff, near Dunedin.

"Police have recovered a firearm from one of the scenes."

Police were trying to establish the link between the two individuals.

They are understood to have lived close to one another.

Hamish McNeilly / Fairfax NZ. A police officer at a Seacliff property, near Dunedin.

Police have not yet released the identities of the two people involved and were examining three areas, Guthrie said.

An elderly Seacliff resident said the community was "very shocked" by what had occurred but residents were pulling together.

"There's people with young children, that affects them more so," she said.

HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Emergency services at the scene of an incident near Seacliff, north of Dunedin, on Tuesday morning.

She was "very, very worried" about what had happened.

"There's obviously been people going through some things. I have a bad feeling about it. It has occurred to me, am I safe?" she said.

"I'm really worried about the way people get into fights in this village."

1 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Specialist ESR and police staff are continuing a scene examination at the site where a 53-year-old woman was found dead in Seacliff, north of Dunedin, on Tuesday, March 8. 2 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Part of Coast Rd, at Seacliff north of Dunedin, remains cordoned off on Tuesday. 3 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police investigate the death of a 53-year-old woman at her Seacliff home on March 8. 4 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Investigators appear to be concentrating on a ute at the front of the dead woman's property, as well as a broken window on her house. 5 of 14 Police and St John at scene of firearms incident at Seacliff, near Dunedin, on Tuesday. 6 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police car. 7 of 14 Hamish McNeilly / Fairfax NZ. .Police at a property where a woman's body was found at Seacliff, near Dunedin 8 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police cordon off a property at Seacliff, near Dunedin. 9 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Police on Coast Rd, Seacliff. 10 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ The incident happened near Truby King Reserve, north of Dunedin, about 8.20am on Tuesday. 11 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ The Fire Service, police and St John rushed to Seacliff, 30 kilometres north of Dunedin, after reports of a firearm incident. 12 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Emergency services at the scene of an incident near Seacliff, north of Dunedin, on Tuesday morning. 13 of 14 HAMISH McNEILLY/STUFF Armed police searching Seacliff after Stephen Findlay was found critically injured at a nearby reserve. 14 of 14 HAMISH MCNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ A 59-year-old man was found with critical injuries at Truby King Reserve.

She believed her friend was involved in the incident, but did not know what had happened to her.

St John spokesman Ian Henderson said the man was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a "very serious condition" by the Otago Rescue Helicopter.

Armed police were seen running through the area on Tuesday morning, while officers searched part of the Truby King Reserve, near Russell Rd, as well as a residential property on nearby Coast Rd.

A woman who lived opposite the reserve said Seacliff was cordoned off – "you can't get through".

The woman, who asked not be named, said she knew the man who had been injured.

He was an "OK neighbour", but she would not comment further.

"It's been an awful day."

In a statement issued at 12.10pm, police said they were continuing to investigate the incident and would remain in the area for some time.

Several cordons had been set up around the Seacliff area, including on parts of Coast Rd.

Police said cordons would most likely remain in place until Wednesday.

"Police would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident and they should not have any concerns for their safety," they said.

One Seacliff resident, who asked not to be named, said she saw a helicopter land in the reserve earlier on Tuesday.