WELLINGTON (REUTERS) - New Zealand police deployed specialist armed officers to a suburb in West Auckland on Wednesday morning (April 3) after responding to reports that a shot may have been fired.

"Police are making inquiries... The Armed Offenders Squad has been deployed to the area as a precaution," a police spokesman told Reuters by phone, adding that major roads in the area had been cordoned off.

The New Zealand Herald reported that the police are "negotiating" with a man who has locked himself in a house in the suburb of Glen Eden.

Local media also reported that schools and pre-schools in the area were in lockdown, but this was lifted shortly after midday.

Passer-by Richard Ramage, who lives nearby, told The New Zealand Herald that there was a disturbance earlier before the police arrived at the scene.

"From what I am aware, the man has locked himself in the house and is refusing to come out," he was quoted as saying.

The country has had a high security alert in place since March 15, when a gunman attacked two mosques, killing 50.