Wellington: New Zealand police have deployed specialist armed officers to a suburb in west Auckland after responding to reports a shot may have been fired.

Local media reported schools and preschools in the Glen Eden area were in lockdown and cordons are in place.

"Police are making enquiries ... The Armed Offenders Squad has been deployed to the area as a precaution," a police spokesman said.

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

Reuters