A man has been taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition after being shot by police during an incident at school in Flaxmere.

Parents and children were squeezed into cupboards while a person was shot by police on school grounds in Hastings.

A mother, who did not wish to be named, said she saw a large man arguing with a teacher at Flaxmere Primary School on Tuesday afternoon.

The man was trying to get into a classroom and police officers were later called to the incident, she said.

MARTY SHARPE/STUFF A mother says parents and children were squeezed into cupboards during the lockdown.

When police arrived, they told people over a megaphone that the man was potentially armed with a pistol.

Parents and children were placed into lockdown where they were hidden in locked classrooms, she said.

The woman said she heard a shot coming from the school grounds but did not know who fired it.

Nearby roads were cordoned off and people were asked to avoid the area.

MARTY SHARPE/STUFF Police cordoned off roads leading to Flaxmere Primary School as the incident played out.

Flaxmere Primary School was put into lockdown about 2.14pm and this was lifted about 3.25pm.

By 3.35pm, crowds of parents and caregivers could be seen waiting outside the school as children came out in tears.

"I'm just relieved to be out of there and my two children are okay," the woman said.

Marty Sharpe / Stuff Crowd outside Flaxmere primary school.

Superintendent Tania Kura said police received a report of a man making threats to a staff member at the school about 2.11pm.

"Police were initially advised the man was carrying a firearm and attending officers were armed.

"The man was located by police with what appeared to be a firearm and he was shot once."

Officers administered medical attention but the man was taken to hospital by ambulance.

In a statement, police said cordons were in place and members of the public were asked to avoid the area.

"Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident."

MARTY SHARPE/STUFF Crowds of parents and caregivers were waiting outside of Flaxmere Primary School after it was placed in lockdown on Tuesday afternoon.

St John spokeswoman Ngaire Jones said one person had been taken to Hawke's Bay Emergency Department with serious injuries.

Flaxmere Primary School principal Robyn Isaacson walked a group of teachers from the school at 4.20pm.



"The main thing is our tamariki and our staff are safe," she said.



"We practice our emergency procedures and I'm very proud of the way staff and students came together.



"We have lockdown procedures and we put them in place".

GOOGLE MAPS/SUPPLIED Flaxmere Primary School in Hastings was put in lockdown, with some parents hiding in cupboards with their children.









The school has 502 pupils and 60 staff.

In an earlier Facebook Post, Flaxmere Primary said everyone in the school was hidden and safe.

The school later updated parents online, telling parents at around 3.10pm where to pick up their children and that everyone was safe.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority will be notified of this incident and police continue to investigate.