A man is due to appear in court today after a firearm sighting sparked the deployment of armed police, leaving people stranded in a Coromandel pub.

Police were called to Tairua Whitianga Road, Coroglen, at about 7pm after reports of a man being sighted with a firearm at a property, said a spokesperson.

After trying to engage with the man and unsuccessfully asking him to leave the building, a cordon was established.

“Police continued to appeal to the man and then deployed tactical options including a drone and gas.”

The man was taken into custody at about 3am, the spokesperson said.

Two air rifles were recovered from the address.

Coroglen Tavern part-owner Luke Findlay had not long closed for the night yesterday when he saw three police vehicles with Armed Offenders Squad members travelling to a property near the pub 16km south of Whitianga.

He understood a person with a gun had been seen on the driveway of the property, Findlay said.

“There’s AOS up at the [property], and three police officers here [outside the tavern] and cops either side of the Whitianga and Coroglen sides of the [State Highway 25] highway … and the [police] helicopter’s going around.”

The incident was also the subject of social media posts.

Findlay and two others – one a neighbour of the property where the incident was understood to be taking place – were stuck at the tavern while the police operation continued, he said just before 11pm.

However, he felt safe, Findlay said.

“We’re just chilling out waiting.”

The 37-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today on a charge of presenting a firearm/restricted weapon.