Bomb Squad arrives in New Plymouth to investigate suspicious package found in tree

Passenger traffic throughout New Plymouth slowed to a snail’s pace Thursday afternoon after police closed the main north route out of town following the discovery of a suspicious package.

The package was found in a tree at Waiwaka Tce in Strandon and reported to the police shortly before 2pm. The army’s bomb squad, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, was called shortly after and arrived around 7pm.

They quickly began to go through the process to evaluate the package. It is not known how long this process may take.

Waiwaka Tce runs parallel to Northgate on State Highway 3. Northgate is one of the busiest highways in the city, used by thousands of people every day.

Police units blocked Waiwaka Tce after discovery of the package and shortly after 3 pm they blocked Northgate.

The closure of Northgate from Watson St to the Waiwhakaiho Bridge quickly affected traffic throughout the city, causing a near gridlock on many roads to Morley St.

Travelers in New Plymouth sat through multiple sets of green lights without moving. The side streets of the city were also very congested.

State Highway 3 from Coronation Ave to Egmont Village also went bumper-to-bumper as drivers searched for an alternate route north after police asked commuters to avoid Northgate.

One woman said on social media that her son had called to say he had been stuck in traffic for an hour. Another person said it took them two hours to drive from Waiwhakaiho Hill to Spotswood, a route that generally takes no more than 15 minutes.

Traffic began to move more freely at 6.30 pm.

Acting Sergeant Wade Callander said the suspicious package was found in a tree by a member of the public.

“We have cordoned off the area for the safety of the public,” Callander said.

The congestion wasn’t that bad for everyone. Just after 5 p.m., a group of skaters took the opportunity to walk down the empty Northgate Freeway before being stopped by police.

Taylah McQuaig, who lives at the corner of Waiwaka and Chilman streets, said she was supposed to move house when the street was closed.

A police officer on the cordon told him to stay and stay inside, he said.

“I’m a little worried now because they said that (the bomb threat) is in Waiwaka Tce,” she said.

Police also spoke with nearby residents to inform them of what was happening and, in the early afternoon, several residents were seen coming out of their homes with bags.

Other residents were denied entry to his street.

Jason Packer, who lives on the corner of Waiwaka Tce and Northgate, said a friend from Inglewood told him about the bomb threat.

“We have seen the police going around our house cordoning everything off,” he said.

He received a phone call from the police saying that perhaps they should be evacuated and that they should stay put.

“They told us to stay away from the front of the house. There are only police officers and cars constantly on the roads.”

Waiwaka Tce is close to Sacred Heart Girls ‘College, New Plymouth Girls’ High School and St John Bosco School. It is understood that all students and staff were allowed to leave the area as normal and that none of the schools had been closed.

At 5pm, the Waiwaka 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.