Students of Auckland's Otahuhu College have been given the afternoon off after the campus was put in lockdown when three men fled from police and tried to hide on school grounds.
The trio failed to stop for police and were seen heading into Otahuhu College about 9.30am.
Police put Otahuhu College and the adjacent King's College into lockdown while armed officers and dog units hunted the suspects.
Police said two of the men were quickly arrested and the third was found about an hour later hiding in a hallway in Otahuhu College. No weapons were found on the any of the three men.
With the emergency over, Otahuhu College principal Neil Watson told media parents who had gathered on the street were invited onto the school grounds for a debriefing by him, and students allowed to go home.
Those who didn't have anyone to look after them at home were being looked after in the school library until 3pm.
Mr Watson told media the lockdown was very calm and orderly.
"The students and the staff worked really well. We kept in contact with our families as often as we could during that to let them know what was happening. So yeah, I was very impressed with both out students and our staff members," he said.
He said students hid under their desks and in dark corners which is standard practice.
Police have swarmed on the suburb of Otahuhu as they search for a person. (Source: Other)
"So standard practice in a lockdown is that you hide in the darkest corners of the classroom, out of view. So that's something we practice, it's something all schools practice so we can deal with it. So I'm really impressed with how well it went in reality."
Mr Watson said all students were brought together in assembly after the incident.
"So it was an event that's obviously not usual for a school and there will be some students and families who are disturbed by it and that's understandable. Our commitment at Otahuhu College is to provide really good support for our staff, students and their families and we'll be doing that."
Mr Watson said the college will have a debrief and has kept the Ministry of Education informed about the lockdown.
"Initial impressions are it went reasonably well, but we'll be looking at how we can improve things better," he said.
The principal said the three offenders were "not related to the school".
King's College and Otahuhu College were both placed on lockdown, with one offender found hiding in a hallway. (Source: Other)
The Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club was also advised by police to keep all of their members inside during the lockdown.
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