A threat from a man led to armed police cordons in Waitao overnight as vehicles were stopped coming in and out of the Welcome Bay area.

One person was arrested after occupants of a Waitao address were threatened by a person known to them yesterday afternoon.

Threats which led police to believe a person was in possession of a firearm saw police put armed cordons in place in Welcome Bay.

'The nature of the threats led police to believe the offenders were in possession of a firearm,” says a statement from police.

'Police set armed cordons in the Welcome Bay area as well as on the roads leading to Welcome Bay, Papamoa Beach and Te Puke.”

At about 5pm, a roving police patrol spotted the vehicle police had been looking for in the Welcome Bay area.

Police say the vehicle was stopped without any issues and one person has been arrested.

'The other occupants of the vehicle are assisting police with their inquiries.”

The investigation is still on-going and police say there is no other information available at this time.