''Neighbours at War'' ends in arrest

A driveway dispute has given new meaning to the term ''neighbours at war'' after it sparked an Armed Offenders Squad call-out that closed a Kerikeri road for almost three hours.

The drama started on Kerikeri's Kapiro Rd about 1.30pm on Tuesday when a woman called police alleging a neighbour had threatened her with a gun.

Police moved quickly to seal off Kapiro Rd, a major thoroughfare in a horticultural area north of Kerikeri, between Equestrian Dr and Redcliffs Rd.

The Whangarei-based Armed Offenders Squad sent at least ten specially trained police officers and a tracking dog, who were backed up by local armed police.

The cordons were lifted about 4.20pm after the alleged offender was located and arrested.

Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson, of Kerikeri police, said a 35-year-old woman had been arrested and charged with presenting a firearm at another woman.

She was due in the Kaikohe District Court on October 9. An air rifle had been found in her house and seized.

Mr Robinson said the incident allegedly arose from an ongoing dispute between neighbours over a driveway and vehicles.

''It came to a head (on Tuesday), and this woman has allegedly presented a firearm at a neighbour,'' he said.

No physical injuries were suffered by either party but the victim was ''a bit shaken up''.

The arrest without further incident was a good outcome, he said.