One man has been arrested while two others remain at large after police surrounded an Auckland apartment building, looking for a man with a shotgun.

Police first responded to reports a man had been seen with a firearm at a property in St Johns Road at 6.30pm on Saturday.

By the time officers arrived the man had driven away and was later seen at an apartment building on Felton Matthew Lane, Inspector Jason Greenhalgh says.

The armed offenders squad set up cordons and evacuated the building, but the man was not found.

Police later arrested a man at a South Auckland property in relation to the incident after confirming his identity.

"At this time, there are two (other) people believed to be outstanding," Insp Greenhalgh said.

No gun was located or fired and no one has been injured in the incident, he said.