A small plane has landed safely after a mid-air emergency with a report of smoke filling the cockpit ahead of landing at Tauranga Airport.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the light aircraft was able to land without incident after a report that smoke was detected on board around 12.45pm.

The spokesperson said an investigation found no signs a fire had occurred and there were no reports of injuries.

A police spokesperson also confirmed they were called to the scene and had since been stood down.

At least one domestic flight was held up by the emergency with the passenger craft circling offshore waiting to land.

An Air New Zealand spokesperson said a passenger plane travelling from Auckland was in a holding pattern while emergency services attended the incident.