Manawatu area commander Inspector Sarah Stewart addresses media after the hunt for gunman Caleb Kovaleski comes to a peaceful end.

Police have found a gun at the scene where they arrested a man after a two-day manhunt in Palmerston North.

The manhunt for Caleb Kovaleski, 25, ended peacefully late about 4.15pm on Friday when he surrendered. The suburb Cloverlea had been locked down since Kovaleski allegedly fled from officers at 10.45am on Thursday.

Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Sarah Stewart said Kovaleski would appear in court tomorrow on firearms charges after a gun was found at the scene.

Caleb Kovaleski took to Facebook on Friday morning to criticise police.

However, Stewart said they could not confirm the type of gun found and whether or not it was loaded.

She said that the police were still working through whether Kovaleski will be facing other charges other than for firearms.

READ MORE:

* Live: Manhunt for Caleb Kovaleski enters second day

* School and kindergarten closed as search for fugitive in Palmerston North continues

Police surrounded a house in the cordon before Caleb Kovaleski gave himself up.

Stewart said Kovaleski was "fit and well" following the two-day manhunt.

Stewart said police used "a number of tactics" to get Kovaleski out of the house but in the end he surrendered.

The house was not known to Kovaleski, she said.

All cordons that were preventing residents from returning home or leaving have now been lifted

She could not confirm how many houses he might have entered.

"At this stage we are still working through a lot of information and the investigation is in its early stages."

A small area still remained cordoned off and was likely to be reopened by tomorrow afternoon, she said.

ROB KITCHIN/STUFF.CO.NZ The Palmerston North suburb of Cloverlea was in lockdown as police searched for gunman Caleb Kovaleski.

"I would particularly like to acknowledge the patience, assistance and support of the local community, who have rallied together to support each other and the police while we worked to resolve the situation," Stewart said.

Stewart said police had been speaking to Kovaleski on and off over the past few days. Kovaleski hadn't confronted anyone while police searched for him, Stewart said.

She said the situation had been one that was "ever-evolving".

MURRAY WILSON/Stuff.co.nz Gunman Caleb Kovaleski surrendered to police on the second day of a manhunt in Palmerston North.

"Things were changing all the time, as our information grew we had to make sure safety of the community was a priority."

Police would now focus on getting people back into their homes after the lockdown left many Cloverlea residents locked out of their homes overnight.

Police said all cordons had now been lifted and residents were free to return home.

David Unwin/ Stuff.co.nz Police on a manhunt close off Cloverlea area leaving residents stranded.

Stewart had pleaded with Kovaleski to resolve the situation.

"We are hoping and wanting Caleb to give himself up."

#BREAKING - Police have peacefully resolved the situation in Palmerston North where a man has been brought safely into custody. More soon — NZP Media (@NZPoliceMedia) July 1, 2016

MURRAY WILSON/ FAIRFAX NZ The hunt for Caleb Kovaleski continued into Friday afternoon.



They had been working with members of his family when it was appropriate, Stewart said.

Mayor Grant Smith said their number one priority was the community.



"I would like to commend the community of Cloverlea.



"They have shown patience and we do need to let the police get on with their job."

Smith said the people of Palmerston North had been "very resilient and very patient".

MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ The armed offenders squad were called to the two-day manhunt.

"Life can go back to normal for those people."

Cloverlea resident Mike Haddock said it was a difficult situation and it was good to see it resolved.

"My wife was inside the cordon and was petrified last night."

Murray Wilson Police monitoring the cordon on Tremaine Ave and Gillespies Ave on Friday morning.

Haddock said she came out this morning, and they were both looking forward to getting home.

"I'm going to my shed, and I'm going to nail five or six beers because going home and I'm staying home."



The first thing Justin Roberts will do is get some fresh clothes, he said.

"Then I'm jumping in the shower and having a beer."





David Unwin A police officer stands at the cordon on Gillespies Line, Palmerston North.

In a Facebook post this morning, Kovaleski criticised police actions and said all he wanted to do was "speak to one person".

Stewart said police were taking a systematic and co-ordinated approach to clearing the area and finding Kovaleski.

Residents either found accommodation elsewhere or slept in their cars, intermittently turning on the ignition to stay warm.

Other residents were directed from all cordons to the Cloverlea Tavern.

Palmerston North incident: Welfare Centre available at the Cloverlea Tavern on Tremaine Ave. Police are on site to assist those affected. — NZP Media (@NZPoliceMedia) June 30, 2016

Drury St resident Allison Pritchard spent a scary night isolated inside the cordon after her husband Lyall went out on Thursday afternoon and was not allowed to return.

"I have been home alone all night, terrified."

She had her small dog, Sophie, for company.

"She sits up and barks at everything.

"There have been police cars up and down here, and the dog handlers. I've not had any sleep, but I'm OK."

Lyall had left the house on the corner of Geraldine Cres about 2.30pm on Thursday, heading to collect a grandson from school.

He had double-backed to make sure he had closed the garage door, arousing the suspicion of police at the cordon for driving up and down the street.He was not allowed to return home on Thursday, or on Friday morning, despite having spent the night away without medication for an eye condition and blood pressure.

Allison said it looked like most of her neighbours had not been home, and she had seen no-one except police officers.

Because of the cordons, Cloverlea resident Pauline Frings was separated from her 4-year-old daughter for more than 24 hours.

Frings, who is 35 weeks pregnant, dropped her daughter, Carys, off at her Porse daycare in Cloverlea on Thursday morning.

She has since been reunited with her. She said it was a "nerve-racking" situation but she was glad her daughter was safe.

Frings said the situation was "frustrating" but the police were simply doing their job. "It's frustrating I suppose but you trust the police to do their job. I don't think they would be keeping people in or out if there wasn't a real risk to the public."

Frustrated Cloverlea resident Barry, who only wanted his first name published, said there was a lack of communication on the police's part.

Barry said he decided to stay in town, at his son's house, at about 10pm on Thursday.

"It just seems to be overkill," he said.

When Barry approached police, he said he was not given any indication of when the cordon might lift.

"They're not providing us with any contact phone number, I think that's the bit that really hurts for me.

"How the hell can they justify the disruption?"

Morris Walker, who lives in Tararua Ave, said he tried to get back home after staying at a friend's place.

Both his daughters were also forced to stay at friends' places, having been locked out after school.

Walker attempted to get home at about 12.30 on Thursday, but was turned away. At 4.30 he was turned away again and told to make arrangements for accommodation.

"The stink part about it is my daughter's flying out to Fiji tomorrow but we can't get her bag out of the house. New passports, the whole lot," Walker said.

"They have obviously got a job to do, making everyone safe."

DAD'S MESSAGE: "COME BACK"

The adoptive father of a man being hunted by police in Manawatu made an emotional plea to his son.

"Son I love you, we want you to come back, I don't want to see you dead. Son, I don't want to have to bury you."

Jim Antcliff, the "whangai" father of the man, says he was contacted by Caleb Kovaleski, 25, who he has raised from the age of 15, earlier on Thursday. Kovaleski told him he had fled police, pulled a gun on them, and that a helicopter was trying to find him.

"I said, 'son, you've got to come home'."

Antcliff has apologised his own Facebook for the inconvenience his son has caused.

"To all the families and especially kids… I'm sorry for your inconvenience he's a good man… and he will be sorry that you all are not at home… he loves kids and family."

Kovaleski has family in Nelson and New Plymouth, including two young daughters.

In another post on Thursday night, Antclliff said: "Your kids son … they want their dad."

SCHOOL AND KINDY CLOSED

Cloverlea Primary School and Kindergarten will be closed on Friday while the cordons remain in place, police said in a statement.

There has been no change in the situation overnight.

"We understand this incident is proving to be disruptive and that people want to go back to their homes and return to their routines. However our priority in this case is to keep the public safe."

Those inside the cordons are asked to "remain vigilant" and keep their properties safe, secure their doors and windows, and call police on 111 if they have any concerns or see suspicious behaviour.

POLICE STAY MUM ON KOVALESKI

Police yesterday confirmed Kovaleski was the man they're looking for but have not revealed why he is wanted.

They have been searching for him in the suburb of Cloverlea since Thursday morning. A police media spokesperson said officers attempted to stop a car in Palmerston North at 10.45am. The driver, Kovaleski, was known to police and had warrants for his arrest, but fled the scene in a grey Mazda.

Kovaleski is described as European, thin to medium build, and about 178cm tall.

The public has been told not to approach him and to call 111 if he is sighted.

Police are also looking for a stolen car, a silver Ford Telstar or Mazda 626 hatchback with a sunroof.

Antcliff said he had been in touch with his son for most of the day and had been receiving text messages from him.

At 12.16pm, he received a text from Kovaleski saying; "I've got a loaded shotgun, I've lost everything and I love you dad".

Antcliff said he asked police if he could go inside the cordon to find Kovaleski, but was denied.

"I said give me a bull horn and I will walk up every street until he comes out."

Kovaleski had told him he had made demands to police, which included a six-pack of beer and a pizza. Antcliff said he thought the situation stemmed from problems Kovaleski was having with his partner.

He had not heard from Kovaleski since later afternoon, but he did not believe police knew where his son was.

LONG WAIT FOR RESIDENTS

Some Cloverlea residents were put up in Highbury's St Michael's Anglican Church and Marae overnight, while a few were able to be escorted into their homes.

About 40 cars waited outside the Benmore Ave cordon on Thursday night.

Around 11.50pm, police cars were seen driving people back inside the cordon. Stuff understands this was done once the person's residence had been searched and deemed safe for them to return.

Jason McMillan had returned to get to his property about 4pm. He said on arrival about 80 to 100 cars were waiting, so he headed to his in-laws for coffee and returned about 9pm. He had been sitting in his vehicle ever since.

"They were letting people through ... but then they stopped."

McMillan said he had work in the morning so he would sleep in his car outside the cordon if he had to.

After hearing who the offender involved was, McMillan said he was surprised as he had met Kovaleski before. He said, at that time, about a year ago, he was aware Kovaleski had just got out of prison.

Cloverlea Tavern, situated on the corner of one of the cordons, opened up its function room to those who had been left waiting.

Manager Shargey Witoko said they had offered a light meal as well as tea and coffee to those in need, in addition to any other facilities they could provide.

"It's something really nice to see people in the community together ... even under the circumstances.

"[People have] been up and down, there's a lot of worried people, a lot of worried parents.

"I think the morale is pretty low for a lot people."

Far side of the tracks

Cloverlea lies on the north-western fringe of Palmerston North's urban area, rather dislocated from the rest of the city.

It is flanked by the railway line on the city side, the rural zone on the other, and access is off two arterial routes out of town, Gillespies Line and State Highway 3, just beyond the railway overbridges.

Part of the area consists of modest, 1950s-style housing backing on to the railway, with some more modern, comfortable homes, especially toward at the northern end in the Meadowbrook Drive cul-de-sac.

About 1900 people live in the suburb, a mix of one and two-parent families with children, and couples without children, and a slightly lower proportion of high income earners than the rest of the city.

The Mangaone Stream runs through the area, effectively separating the housing from the industrial end of Benmore Ave and Bennett St. The pride of the neighbourhood is Cloverlea School and Park, off Herbert Ave.

It is one of the last parts of Palmerston North to still have overhead powerlines.