UPDATED 3.29pm: Police have released the names of six schools that have received threats of a "concerning nature."

The schools are Logan Park High School in Dunedin, Wellington High School in Wellington, Tamatea High School in Napier, Burnside High School in Christchurch, Central Normal School in Palmerston North, and Brookfield School in Tauranga.

Police said all staff and children at Brookfield School had been accounted for and had been taken to a nearby reserve.

“Initial investigations have identified that a number of schools around New Zealand have received threats,” they said in a statement.

Inquiries continued on the origin of the threats.

Police are searching the school.

An Eastern district police spokesman confirmed Tamatea High School in Napier has also been evacuated due to a bomb threat.

Tamatea Intermediate School said in a post on Facebook that it was in contact with police.

“Please be assured that all our students are safe in class. We will keep you updated.”

Police said in a statement they were responding to a number of incidents where schools had received calls which are of concern.

"Police staff are currently in attendance at each school and are working with the leadership teams to determine the individual response at each school," the statement said.

"The priority for police and the schools is to ensure the safety of students and staff.

"Police have well established procedures for dealing with such incidents and we are currently working through those procedures, with each of the schools at the moment."

Tauranga police acting sergeant on duty Adam Ramsay confirmed Brookfield School was one of five other schools in New Zealand to receibe a bomb threat.

He said as far as he was aware, Brookfield was the only Bay of Plenty school to receive a bomb threat. 

Brookfield School principal Robert Hyndman said a caller made a threat to the school about 12.30pm. 

The students and staff were all gathered on the school field.

About six police cars were at the school and a police officer was stationed at the gate.

Mr Hyndman said parents were being advised to pick up their children and take them home if they could.