An Invercargill man who police say was seen firing shots in the air has been arrested and will appear in the city's district court on Thursday morning.

A police spokeswoman confirmed an alleged offender was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, being intoxicated in charge of a firearm or restricted weapon and for discharging the firearm in or near a dwelling in the suburb of Grasmere.



The spokeswoman said it was reported to police that he fired shots in the air.

She confirmed the man was an Invercargill resident but said she could not release a name prior to his court appearance, expected to be after 10am .

Kavinda Herath Police officers on Bay Rd in Invercargill where there were reports of an armed man on Wednesday.

"There were no injuries and from what I can see a scene examination will not be required."

The man sparked a hunt after reports of an armed man in the suburb on Wednesday night.



Police rushed to the area about 10pm after residents reported seeing a man carrying a firearm.

About midnight, the man was located and was spoken to by police. The firearm had also been located, a police spokesman said.

Cordons were put in place during the incident and police thanked the public for their patience.

Earlier, residents were urged to stay in their homes, as cordons were put in place at Heywood St, Bay Rd, Paterson St and Drury Lane.

A heavy police presence was seen around the suburb.

A Tanner St resident said he heard what he believed were gunshots before police arrived, then two more a little later on.

A reader on the Southland Times Facebook page reported he heard two shots from Peterson St and thought it was a car backfiring.

Another heard noise and thought it could have been fireworks.

Earlier on Wednesday, police received reports of a man carrying a firearm in south Invercargill.

Police looked into the matter but did not find anything suspicious.

A police spokesperson said there was nothing to suggest any link between the incident in South Invercargill and the incident in Grasmere.

Wednesday's incidents followed on from a tragedy in Otatara, near Invercargill, in which Kevin Johnston's body was found hours after he shot his mother on Tuesday.

His mother was in intensive care in Dunedin Hospital on Wednesday night.