A daycare and sporting campus are in lockdown as police assess a bomb threat in Upper Hutt. 

A police spokesman said they are making enquiries into a “threatening message sent to an organisation in Upper Hutt”. 

“We do not believe there are any immediate safety risks, however, these sorts of threats are taken seriously,” they said. 

“Inquiries remain ongoing into the source of the message.” 

In a message sent to parents, Farmyard Preschool said their landlords, NZCIS campus, had told them there was a bomb threat at the property. 

The New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport includes accommodation blocks, a conference centre, and sporting facilities. 

“We do not wish to alarm you, however, we need to inform you we are currently in lockdown,” the preschool’s email said. 

“This lockdown was enforced by NZCIS campus, who are our landlords. There has been communication of a bomb threat at the campus. Officials are onsite and we hope to know more soon. 

“We understand the anxiety this causes you, but please know the tamariki are happy having games and are all accounted for.” 

The email, sent about 10.20am, was followed by an 11am update saying they remained “safe and well in lockdown”. 

“Currently police with dogs are searching the whole premises thoroughly, while a specialist team is arriving shortly,” the email said. 

“There is also security onsite, not letting people in or out.” 

The preschool urged parents to take comfort in the fact they practised lockdown drills with the children each term. 

“This is to ensure kaiako and tamariki are as prepared as they can be for situations like these.” 

The Wellington Phoenix have cancelled their scheduled media session today at NZCIS due to “unforeseen circumstances”. 

More to come. 

Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.