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Traffic is in chaos in New Plymouth after police cordoned off the main north route into town following the discovery of a suspicious package in a tree.
Multiple police units are present in the Waiwaka Tce area and Northgate where State Highway 3 is closed, with detours in place, causing multiple delays.
Waiwaka Tce has been blocked at all entrances following reports of a suspicious package on the terrace just before 2pm.
Christina Persico / Stuff
Traffic was very slow on St Aubyn and Molesworth streets in New Plymouth on Thursday.
Acting Sergeant Wade Callander said the suspicious package was found in a tree by a member of the public.
The New Zealand Defense Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was coming to assess the package and it was expected to arrive in New Plymouth around 6.30am to 7pm, it said.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
Police have cordoned off Waiwaka Tce in New Plymouth following an alleged bomb threat.
“We have cordoned off the area for the safety of the public,” Callander said.
Traffic is being diverted, causing chaos at multiple points in the city. There is no traffic on Northgate, the main northern route into and out of New Plymouth.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
SH3 along Northgate in New Plymouth has been closed by police due to an alleged bomb threat at Waiwaka Tce in Strandon.
Traffic was bumper up Powderham and Courtenay streets to Morley St around 4:40 pm. Traffic to Egmont Village stretched for at least two miles, and Molesworth / St Aubyn St was also at a slow pace from Moturoa.
One woman said on social media that her son had called to say he had been stuck in traffic for an hour.
Commuters in New Plymouth are sitting through multiple sets of green lights without moving. The side streets of the city are also very congested.
Shortly after 5 p.m., a group of skaters took the opportunity to go down Northgate, but were stopped by police.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
Skaters scrambled to seize an empty Northgate. The police rushed them out of there.
Action Indoor Sports, based on Katere Rd, posted on their Facebook page for any Thursday team coming from town, please note there are traffic detours on site that send cars through Fitzroy instead of the highway , “so they will pay to have enough time to travel.”
Taylah McQuaig, who lives at the corner of Waiwaka and Chilman streets, said she was supposed to move house.
A police officer on the cordon told him to stay and stay inside, he said.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
Typically New Plymouth’s busiest highway, Northgate was closed Thursday afternoon following reports of a suspicious package on a nearby street.
“I’m a little worried now because they said that (the bomb threat) is in Waiwaka Tce,” she said.
Police have spoken with nearby residents to alert them of what is happening, Callander said.
Callander asked motorists to avoid the area if possible. The police thanked the public for their understanding and patience while the situation was addressed.
In the early afternoon, residents of Waiwaka Tce were seen leaving their houses with bags, while people were also denied entry to the street.
The street is close to two secondary schools: Sacred Heart Girls ‘College and New Plymouth Girls’ High School and an elementary school: St John Bosco School.
SIMON O’CONNOR / Things
The generally busy Northgate on State Highway 3 was empty Thursday afternoon after police blocked access to the highway.
At 5 p.m., a nearby tennis club on Chilman St, which intersects with Waiwaka Tce, was operating as usual with up to 30 young tennis players on site.
Club members said they had not been informed about the package.
Police at the scene have said that no schools in the area were closed.
More to come.
