Armed police have caused a stir in the Christchurch suburb of Parklands as they raided a house next to a primary school.

A Parkview Primary staff member says they didn't need to go into lockdown, but it gave the kids something to look at while they were picked up from school.

A police spokesperson says they were executing a pre-planned arrest warrant on Lamorna Road.

They say the armed police were just a precaution.