A manhunt is under way after armed police swooped in Napier last night, forcing cyclone-devastated residents to stay indoors.

People in Marewa were asked to stay inside their homes on Friday night after an armed police response to an incident in Marewa.

Residents of Barker Rd and surrounding streets were told the armed offenders squad was seeking a person of interest.

One local told the Herald an Eagle helicopter was also hovering over the area.

Police are still hunting for a man in relation to the incident this morning.

Cordons had earlier been put in place, as police focused on an address nearby Douglas McLean Ave.

Officers were stood down from the area shortly after 9pm.

Meanwhile, two people are in custody after a separate incident in which shots were fired in Pirimai about 4.30pm yesterday.

Police said there were no reports of injuries but two people had been taken into custody and charges were being considered.

“Police will be taking a hard line with anyone acting unlawfully and compounding the suffering of our hard-hit communities.”

Police Minister and MP for Napier Stuart Nash earlier said he was aware of looting and a gang incident that he believed unfolded in Tamatea last night.

“Police will take a very, very dim view of anyone caught looting,” he said.

“I know the gang incident, police are treating that incredibly seriously. They’ve already arrested one of the parties involved in that and they’re going hard out to find the other party.

“Imagine, the city’s without power, there’s a whole lot of people living in trepidation and a high degree of uncertainty, some have lost everything, and you’re getting these miscreants going around looting.

“I mean, how low can you get? Seriously,” the MP said.

Nash said he had heard that shots were fired at a car.

A person has also been arrested after assaulting a police officer at a checkpoint in Napier on Thursday.

Eastern District Commander Superintendant Jeanette Park told Hawke’s Bay Today an officer was assaulted by an intoxicated woman at a checkpoint on Marine Parade and Ellison St, State Highway 51.

“That person has been arrested and will be facing charges,” Park said.

She said the officers involved are recovering.