UPDATED 8.01am More than 6000 people have been arrested following the failed coup attempt in Turkey.

LISTEN ABOVE: Turkey correspondent from The Independent, Laura Pitel, spoke to Andrew Dickens

President Tayyip Erdogan has accused the plotters of trying to kill him and says they'll pay a heavy price for what they've done.

MORE: Arrests begin after Turkish military rebels attempt putsch

Turkey correspondent Laura Pitel told Andrew Dickens as well as the arrests, people have been dismissed from their jobs in the military, judiciary and prosecutions office.

"This is leading to fears of the government [that] the coup will be used as a pretence, if you like, to crack down on those who are opponents of President Erdogan. Others say it's too early to tell. It's obviously a major operation, there were a lot of people involved."

Pitel told Andrew Dickens there's a very nationalist surge happening.

"People responded to the call from the government to take to the streets to protect from any other prospective operation, but not everybody is happy about it. There has been some quite nasty recriminations that has followed this coup attempt."

Auckland University's Stephen Hoadley said President Tayyip Erdogan has been a poster child for the west with his moderate version of Islam.

He told Larry Williams the President's actions now are disappointing.

"That he seems to be going a little bit off the rails, a little bit extreme, relying on the mosques for popular demonstrations against the military. It will be a worry to the west that his variety of Islam may turn out to be highly authoritarian."

Kiwi Journalist based in Istanbul Yvette McCullough told Larry Williams tens of thousands took to the streets to celebrate last night, but it's business as usual today.

I was out on the streets today and it was a bit quieter than usual for a Sunday, but still life seems to be carrying on for most people."

Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand will be keeping a close eye on Turkey.

Key said Turkey's an important country, and the attempted uprising was very concerning.

"This is obviously a reasonably serious attempt at a coup and we would just be monitoring what's going on and hoping that the issue can now be put to bed."

Key is in Jakarta, Indonesia - for a three day visit to talk about global security and trade.