UPDATED 3.36pm: Police have lifted cordons in a Wellington suburb this afternoon, after being unable to find a reported gunman.

Armed police descended on Mt Victoria about 12.30, and the nearby Wellington East Girls' College was shut down for about an hour.

However, police say they searched the area for about two and a half hours before standing down.

Wellington East Girls' College said on its website that the lockdown has since been lifted and normal activities have resumed.

"School will finish at the scheduled time today and end-of-day arrangements should be unaffected," the school said.