Bomb threat resolved at New Zealand's oldest pub in Russell, Bay of Islands

Tuesday, 7 May 2019

Cordons have lifted around New Zealand's oldest pub, the Duke of Marlborough in the Bay of Islands, which was temporarily evacuated over a bomb threat. 

The hotel and restaurant was closed down after the threat was received at 10.45am on Tuesday. 

At 1.30pm, a police spokesman said the incident had been resolved and the hotel given the all clear.

'Cordons around the premise in Russell have now been lifted and police have established that there is no cause for public concern.'

Investigations into the origin of the threat would continue, he said. 

The Duke's owner, Anton Haag, initially said: 'We don't know what's going on, I'm up in Kaitaia, but as a precaution we've closed down until we've been given the all clear.'

He said he didn't know if the threat was a hoax or not and staff were following police instructions. 

Earlier, police advised members of the public to stay away from areas around The Strand, Cass St and York St, including the Russell Wharf.

On Facebook, Fullers GreatSights Ferries suspended its passenger ferry service between Paihia and Russell but restarted shortly after.